The Rooted Podcast

How can we model God’s love, and show what it looks like to love others, by truly listening? In this episode, Noël, Esther and special guest Siân Rees discuss how Christians can become better listeners, both inside and outside the church context.  They emphasise that listening begins with love, humility and attention: choosing to prefer others, resist distractions and be fully present. They reflec...

How does God speak to people and how can they discern that it is really his voice? What does it mean to truly listen to God and obey him? In this episode, Noël, Mark and Esther explore the close connection between listening and obedience in the life and journey of faith.  Beginning with the idea that God listens to his people, they reflect on the wonder of prayer and the two-way nature of relation...

What does the Hebrew word Shema mean and what is the significance of the Shema prayer? Welcome to the first episode of our series on the Shema prayer and what the Bible has to say about listening.  In this episode, Noël, Mark and Esther explore the scriptures in the books of Deuteronomy and Numbers that form the Shema and discuss how this daily prayer can shape our identity, desires and the way we...

What is pentecost? What can we learn from the early church? Join us as we discuss the significance of Pentecost, exploring its historical and Biblical context, the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the early church.  We also reflect on the courage and community of the early believers, and the lessons that can be applied to the church today. Join us for a week of Pentecost devotionals. T...

Why has this story been included in the biblical canon? What does it reveal about Jesus’ divine position as just lawgiver and merciful judge? In this bonus episode, returning special guest Stuart Ford joins Esther and Mark to discuss the story of the woman caught in adultery from John 8.1–11. We explore the complexities of the narrative, including the authenticity of the passage and its inclusion...

What does it mean for Jesus to be the true vine, or vineyard? What does it mean to abide in Christ and be fruitful? In this episode, Noël and Mark are joined by special guest Chantelle Baker, to discuss the final I Am statement in John’s Gospel: ‘I am the vine; you are the branches’ (John 15.5). We begin by exploring how this verse has been translated. Should it in fact be rendered, ‘I am the vine...

In what sense is Jesus ‘the way, the truth, and the life’? What was the significance of his words about his Father’s house? In this episode, we’re joined by Jack Morris, our producer, to discuss Jesus' statement in John 14: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life'. As well as unpacking the significance of each word, asking what Jesus meant by ‘way’, ‘truth’, and ‘life’, we explore the wider context...

How does Jesus fulfil the role of the good shepherd? How does the use of shepherding imagery in John 10 compare to how it is used in Ezekiel 34? In this episode we're joined by special guest Michael Pfundner to explore John 10, where Jesus identifies himself as both the good shepherd and the gate for the sheep. We explore the significance of Jesus' statement in relation to Old Testament use of she...

What does it mean that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? How does Jesus raising Lazarus foreshadow his own resurrection? In this episode Noël and special guest Rev Amanda Bedzrah delve into the theme of resurrection as presented in John 11, focusing on Jesus' statement: 'I am the resurrection and the life.' They explore the story of Lazarus and Jesus' tears. Amanda speaks of the human experi...

What did Jesus mean when he said, 'I am the light of the world'? In this episode we look at John chapters 7—9, focusing on Jesus' second I am statement: 'I am the light of the world.' We track the wider context John provides in his Gospel account touching on the escalating tension between the Jewish leaders and Jesus. We explore the significance of references to light in the Bible and connect Jesu...

What does Jesus mean when he says, 'I am the bread of life'? How does Jesus satisfy eternally? Welcome to the first episode of our series on the 'I am' statements Jesus makes in the Gospel of John. The conversation focuses on what Jesus meant when he said, 'I am the bread of life' in John 6. We consider how this statement links to the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 as well as exploring its co...

How does Proverbs help us to have peace in our world of anxiety? In this episode we're joined by Leonie to explore the intersection of biblical wisdom and the challenges posed by today's news cycle. We discuss the impact of constant negative news on mental health, being constantly fed by scripture and the importance of trusting in God amidst chaos. We also talk about how wisdom literature can guid...

What challenges do we face in applying God’s wisdom about conflict today? How can we pray about conflicts, war, peace and reconciliation? In this episode, we’re joined by special guest Rachel Jones to discuss what Proverbs says about conflict. We explore various aspects of conflict we experience today, whether that's in personal relationships at home, work and church, in our wider communities, or...

What does Proverbs say about honesty, integrity and lying? In this episode Mark is joined by Stuart Ford to discuss how Proverbs deals with the themes of honesty and integrity. They explore various proverbs related to lying and false witness, considering the complex moral implications of dishonesty – in personal relationships and in society. They tackle the challenging question of whether lying is...

How does Proverbs challenge our view of money and what we should do with it?   In this episode, along with special guest Liam Thatcher, we delve into the theme of wealth as presented in the Book of Proverbs.  First we think about how we define wealth today, particularly in the West, and consider how this compares to an understanding of wealth in biblical times. Then we discuss how money and abunda...

Why is wisdom personified as a woman in Proverbs?   This episode opens with a discussion about different ways wisdom is portrayed in Proverbs. We look at wisdom’s personification as a woman, considering the power of this literary device in its original context, whether it is partly a marriage metaphor and how it connects back to Genesis 1 and a design pattern established in creation. We explore th...

What does it mean to have wisdom? Why should we pursue it and how can we put it into practice? In this episode, we explore how wisdom is presented in the Bible. With particular reference to Proverbs, we discuss the contrast between biblical wisdom and current ideas about self-help. We look at the relationship between age, experience and wisdom, and how wisdom is passed on. We discuss the need to s...

What does it look like to live by faith? What is the relationship between faith and doubt? How can we persevere and grow in faith? This episode focuses on Hebrews 11. We discuss the definition of faith at the beginning of the chapter and what this looks like in a person’s life. From believing in God’s existence to taking him at his word, we explore how this shapes our relationship with him as well...

How does Jesus' once for all sacrifice supersede the Old Testament sacrificial system? In this episode we dive into the theme of sacrifice as presented in the book of Hebrews. We explore the significance of the Old Testament sacrificial system as part of God's people keeping their covenant with him. Then we look at how Jesus' sacrifice permanently fulfilled the purpose of the sacrificial system an...

What did Joe Rogan and Wesley Huff say about the Bible? Can we really believe in the credibility of the Bible? In this bonus episode of The Rooted Podcast, we're joined by Dr Andrew Ollerton, head of Bible Engagement at Bible Society, to discuss the recent increase of interest in the Bible sparked by Wesley Huff's appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. We look at the credibility of the Bi...

What was the role of a high priest in the Old Testament? How did Jesus fulfil the role of high priest for eternity? Who was Melchizedek?   In this episode we focus on priesthood in the Bible and the role of Jesus as the great high priest.  We begin by exploring the historical context of priests and the Levitical priesthood in Judaism. Then we consider the picture of Jesus as the superior and etern...

Happy Christmas from everyone from The Rooted Podcast. We hope you've enjoyed the podcast this year. The Hebrews series will continue in the new year, but we're going to take a short break over Christmas. We'll be back with episodes looking at priesthood, sacrifice, examples of faith, and just more all about the book of Hebrews. So in the meantime, from all of us on The Rooted Podcast, Happy Chris...

Are we in danger of drifting away from the faith? Can you lose your salvation?   In this episode, we discuss the warnings peppered throughout the Letter to the Hebrews: don’t drift away from the faith; don’t harden your hearts; it’s necessary to grow in spiritual maturity and discernment; don’t grow weary!  We consider the author’s intentions as we talk about the importance of community in being a...

Why does it matter that Jesus became human like us and why was it necessary for him to die in the way he did? In today's episode, we’re joined by a special guest, Sarah Hindley, as we dive into Hebrews chapter 2. Our conversation focuses on the significance of Jesus being fully human as well as fully God. We discuss the Old Testament references used by the author and what they meant by describing...

Who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews? What did they want their readers to understand about Jesus? Welcome to series five of The Rooted Podcast in which we'll be looking at the Letter to the Hebrews. In this episode, we give a quick overview by considering what we can know about the author, audience and context of the letter, before diving into chapter one. We discuss the supremacy of Christ as God’...