The Outspoken Bible

Fiona and Neil talk about 2 John, a letter written to a dear lady, and talk about New Testament women, love and how to challenge nasty behaviour. Our thanks to our Bible 2020 app users who provided the voices for the scripture readings. Download the Bible 2020 app 📱⁠ ⁠ IOS:  https://bible.scot/bible-2020-appstore⁠ Android:  https://bible.scot/bible-2020-android⁠

Beginning with God’s covenants with Noah, Abram and David, these readings explore God’s ongoing mission to restore his broken creation, drawing people back to himself. God’s mission finds its fulfilment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a mission which the church continues today. Our thanks to our Bible 2020 app users who provided the voices for the scripture readings. Download the Bible 202...

The Book of Life is a theme declaring the beauty and power of God's word.  This episode is not sponsored by the estate of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, but he does get a lot of air time, as Neil, Jen and Fiona discuss their relationship with the Bible, and the influences outside their own traditions that have brought more appreciation and love for the Bible. Our thanks to our Bible 2020 app users who provi...

On today's episode we are looking at the theme of Longing For God. Fiona, Neil and Jen discuss what prayer looks like in the Bible, and how their own prayer life, and culture of prayer has perhaps departed from what prayer is all about.  Our thanks to our Bible 2020 app users who provided the voices for the scripture readings. Download the Bible 2020 app 📱⁠ ⁠ IOS:  https://bible.scot/bible-2020-a...

We're jumping into the Outspoken Bible stream for this Bible 2020 theme in order to tell you about a new series of interviews linked with Hope in Suffering. ------ Welcome to Hope / Suffering – a new series of interviews where we ask the question – where do you find hope in times of suffering? We've been talking to people from all over the world who have had very different life experiences, but wh...

We round off our mini-series on the book of Ruth asking the question - where is God? God is mentioned, but unusually for a book in the Bible, we don't actually hear from Him directly. What can we make of this story, it's place in the wider context of the Bible, and our daily experience of relationship with God?   Make sure to listen to our audio drama - Where You Go, written and directed by Fiona...

In today's episode Fiona, Jen and Neil look at the role Boaz plays in this story and discuss power, rule breaking and welcoming those seeking refuge.   Show Notes Where You Go - Audio Drama from Bible 2020 Bags of Discovery Ruth Daily Devotionals LICC Resource - Ruth: Drawing on a Deeper Love

On today's episode, Fiona, Jen and Neil discuss the eponymous character - Ruth, her heritage, subversion of patriarchy and expectations, and what happens when begatting falls apart.   Show Notes Where You Go - Audio Drama from Bible 2020 Bags of Discovery Ruth Daily Devotionals LICC Resource - Ruth: Drawing on a Deeper Love

Today we start a four part deep dive into the book of Ruth, focussing on the four main characters in this small story from the Old Testament. Each day Fiona, Jen and Neil will look at one person in the narrative and discuss what we can learn from them, and how they contribue to the bigger story, in Ruth and in the Bible. Today we start, perhaps surprisingly, with Naomi.   Show Notes Where You Go -...

Our new podcast "Where You Go" is an eleven part audio drama based on the book of Ruth. The full series is available by clicking the link below, or finding it wherever you found this podcast!  If you're intregued, but want to try before you subscribe, we present the first two episodes for you in this stream.   Look out for 4 new episodes of the Outspoken Bible around the book of Ruth coming next w...

We're jumping into the Outspoken Bible stream for this Bible 2020 theme in order to tell you about a new series of interviews linked with Hope in Suffering.   ------     Welcome to Hope / Suffering – a new series of interviews where we ask the question – where do you find hope in times of suffering?   We've been talking to people from all over the world who have had very different life experiences...

We're looking at the theme of Hope in Suffering in today's Outspoken Bible.  Suffering is a reality in a broken world. Scripture acknowledges this reality, but points us to the transforming presence of God in our lives, regardless of our circumstances, and the words of hope he speaks over our world. Join the cast as Neil squeezes in as many outdoor sporting analogies as he's able,and keep listenin...

Many of the verses in this series seem very familier to the cast, but is that a help or a hindrence? Jen, Fiona and Neil consider why there are particular verses we hold onto throughout the Bible, no matter who we are. Alongside the usual discussion, they are also offrailed by a vague memory of what scripture is quoted in Chariots of Fire, when. You can find the answers here: Clip One | Clip Two  ...

In today’s episode, Fiona and Alasdair speak to Rev Canon Mike Parker. Mike is in Edinburgh at present but has lived in Beirut, Cyprus and Cairo, and has travelled extensively in the Middle East as a missionary. He is also a vicar in the Episcopal Church in Scotland.  In this interview, Mike reflects on today’s verses from Revelation 7:13-15, drawing on his knowledge of the global church to help u...

Today Fiona and Alasdair speak to Tara Devlin about Scotland’s relationship with Jamaica, the transatlantic slave trade and about how to respond to the cultural moment in which we find ourselves. Tara was Tearfund Scotland’s youth and young adults’ coordinator for many years, and since 2009/10 has been exploring mission opportunities in Jamaica, firstly with the Baptist Mission Society and more re...

Today Fiona speaks to Ali MacDonald. Ali has been working with Scottish Bible Society's Trauma Healing Resources, and most recently leading sessions with "Beyond Disaster" a Bible-based resource that encourages us to bring our emotions to God in times of crisis. Originally developed to address urgent needs in the aftermath of natural or human-caused disasters, the contents are hugely helpful “spir...

Jen, Neil and Fiona are back and reading about the Holy Spirit during this short but fruitful series in the Bible 2020 app. In this episodes we have discussions of church upbringing vs biblical realities of the Holy Spirit, diversity in church expression, and variety of experiences of the Holy Spirit.  Our thanks to our Bible 2020 app users who provided the voices for the scripture readings. Downl...

On today's podcast we're delighted to be speaking to the new moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Little did Martin (or any of us) know when he stepped into the role, but as coronavirus turned the world upside down, his job description has had to be completely rewritten. Martin speaks to us just after Pentecost Sunday, and during our Bible 2020 theme on the Spirit. He refle...

A short theme on Joy through the Psalms covered on Bible 2020 may at first seem out of place during this pandemic, but as Neil Jen and Fiona start talking, they look into what God is telling us about joy, suffering and justice through this songbook. Join the cast as they reflect on the Psalms, their situation and what the church today can learn about what we sing about and how we go about singing...

Christina Allnutt is a teacher, a piper - and a long time friend of Fiona's (are you seeing a theme?)! Fiona and Christina talk about what teaching looks like in the hub schools, trusting in God through the pandemic, and they reflect on today's reading.    Today's reading: Psalm 105:1-4 Download the Bible 2020 app 📱⁠ ⁠ IOS:  https://bible.scot/bible-2020-appstore⁠ Android:  https://bible.scot/bib...

On this week's conversation we chat to Andrew Robertson. Andrew is currently in Bolivia with Latin Link. He talks to Fiona about the lockdown, plans gone awry and trusting in God's plan for you. Today's reading: Jonah 4 Download the Bible 2020 app 📱⁠ ⁠ IOS: https://bible.scot/bible-2020-appstore⁠ Android: https://bible.scot/bible-2020-android⁠   Show Notes God's Concern - Five Days with Jonah Whi...

Over the next five days we are going to be doing something a bit different. The Bible 2020 app has just begun a new theme: "God's Concern - looking a the book of Jonah. And we're going to be reading along with the passage day by day. So join us every day for a new podcast, or wait til the end of the theme and listen to them all in one go. These podcasts are part of a suite of resources available o...

Over the next five days we are going to be doing something a bit different. The Bible 2020 app has just begun a new theme: "God's Concern - looking a the book of Jonah. And we're going to be reading along with the passage day by day. So join us every day for a new podcast, or wait til the end of the theme and listen to them all in one go. These podcasts are part of a suite of resources available o...

Over the next five days we are going to be doing something a bit different. The Bible 2020 app has just begun a new theme: "God's Concern - looking a the book of Jonah. And we're going to be reading along with the passage day by day. So join us every day for a new podcast, or wait til the end of the theme and listen to them all in one go. These podcasts are part of a suite of resources available o...

Over the next five days we are going to be doing something a bit different. The Bible 2020 app has just begun a new theme: "God's Concern - looking a the book of Jonah. And we're going to be reading along with the passage day by day. So join us every day for a new podcast, or wait til the end of the theme and listen to them all in one go. These podcasts are part of a suite of resources available o...