The Ryley Heppner Podcast

Faith isn’t passive—it’s active, alive, and always moving. When Paul met Christ, his entire life changed direction. He went from persecuting Christians to proclaiming Christ with boldness and purpose. Abraham’s faith was the same—he believed God, and he went. True Christian faith doesn’t stop at belief; it transforms how we live, where we go, and what we do. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Persona...

In this episode, Todd Korpi joins me to discuss his new book, "AI Goes to Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence." In our chat we explore the potential for both the use and abuse of AI within the Church, asking how pastors, leaders, and congregations can engage this powerful technology with wisdom, discernment, and theological depth. Todd Korpi (DMiss, Fuller Theological Sem...

What did Jesus actually say about himself? Was he simply a wise teacher—or did he claim something far more profound? In this episode, I talk with Mikel Del Rosario — “The Apologetics Guy” — about his new book, "Did Jesus Really Say He Was God?: We explore the biblical and historical evidence for Jesus’ divine identity, as well as some common objections, key passages, and how the earliest Chri...

In this episode, I sit down with John McCabe to discuss his new book "Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Last Eight Days." We talk about the myths that have grown around Bonhoeffer’s death, the unreliable testimonies that shaped past biographies, and the fresh sources that reveal a truer picture of his courage, faith, and humanity in the final days of the Third Reich. John McCabe is Research Associate at th...

In this episode I have the chance to sit down with Dr. Eric Mason to talk about his new book, "Rebranding the Church." We dig into what “rebranding” really means (and doesn’t mean), how the church’s witness has been distorted, and what it will take to restore credibility and trust to the church. Eric Mason is the founder and senior pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia. With over thirty ye...

From 120 believers in Acts to billions today, God’s Kingdom has faced epidemics, persecution, political hostility, and cultural opposition—yet it has never stopped growing. The lesson? No matter what threats arise in our own day, the Church will endure because God’s purposes cannot be stopped. ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Personal Website/Writing⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Apologetics Canada Request⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Outreach Speakers Request

What does James really mean when he says, “faith without works is dead” ? In this episode, I talk with New Testament scholar Joel B. Green about his latest commentary on one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible. We explore how James connects faith and works, why he’s often (wrongly) set against Paul, and what it looks like to live out a faith that actually transforms lives. Joel B. Green i...

What does exercise have to do with following Jesus? In this conversation, I talk with David Mathis from Desiring God, about his new book "A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul." We explore how movement, discipline, and embodied habits can actually deepen our joy in Christ, shape our discipleship, and help us serve others better. David Mathis is executive editor...

What happens when hip hop, art, and apologetics collide? In this conversation, I sit down with Troy Lydiate—better known as Scribe Music—to talk about how art shapes culture, how the church has often struggled to engage with it, and why beauty and creativity matter for apologetics. We explore the tension between the sacred and the secular, the prophetic voice of hip hop in society, and how the chu...

+ Listen to the end for an exclusive new song preview from CityAlight, written in conjunction with Tim Challies' and Tim Keesee's new book, "From the Rising of the Sun." Together again with Tim Challies, this time to talk about his new book, "From the Rising of the Sun," co-written with Tim Keesee. The book journeys around the globe, following the sun from Fiji to Alask...

As the one-year anniversary of the Westminster Study Bible approaches, I am joined by one of its editors, Dr. Emerson Powery, to dive into the vision, process, and purpose behind it. What really goes into the notes, commentary, and theological decisions of a study Bible? How does a study Bible shape the way we read Scripture? And why does the Westminster Study Bible offer something distinct from t...

Can ancient philosophy help us understand the Christian faith? Louis Markos joins me to talk about his latest book, "From Aristotle to Christ," and how Aristotelian thought shaped the way the early church expressed its beliefs. Our conversation digs into topics like why Aristotle still matters, how philosophy can sharpen faith, and what it means for Christians today. Louis Markos (PhD, University...

The most important question you will ever answer is this: Who is Jesus? In Acts 17, Paul reasoned with people from the Scriptures, showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again—and that Jesus fulfilled those promises. His simple argument was this: 1)The Scriptures foretold a suffering and risen Messiah 2) Jesus died and rose again. Therefore, Jesus is the Messiah—the risen King. This same...

Historical context can bring incredible weight to the Bible. Take Revelation 1:9 as an example. John wasn’t just casually writing from an island; he was exiled to Patmos, a place reserved for Rome’s most serious criminalshttps://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

What is the church and why does it still matter? In this episode I chat with Dr. Guy Waters to explore the beautiful biblical doctrine of the church. Drawing from his book One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, we discuss the church’s identity, its purpose, and its essential role in the Christian life. Guy Waters is the James M. Baird Jr. Professor of New Testament and the academic dean of Ref...

Biblical scholars Doug Huffman and Paul Gondreau join for me a conversation to explore the historical, theological, and interpretive dimensions of The Chosen. Drawing from their new book "Watching The Chosen: History, Faith, and Interpretation," we discuss how the series portrays Jesus and His followers, where it aligns with the biblical text, where it takes creative liberties, and how viewers can...

Did Jesus ever claim to be God? In John 8:58, Jesus declares, “Before Abraham was, I am.” and his audience responds by picking up stones to execute Him for blasphemy. https://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

I wonder what the impact would be if this week, everywhere you normally would take your phone, you took your Bible instead, or also? And then, what if every time you wanted to pick up your phone to scroll this week, you picked up your Bible instead and read it?

Seven years of lead pastoring and I have now resigned. I don't know what is next, but if it is pastoring again, there are some things I would do differently and a few things I'd do the same. https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

In this episode, I sit down with comedian and creator Anthony Russo to talk about his latest release, "The Bible Is Funny: Volume 2" - a card game that finds comedy in the most unexpected corners of Scripture. In our conversation we explore why the Bible is funnier than most people realize, how humor can deepen our engagement with God’s Word, and what it means to do comedy as a Christian. Anthony...

In this episode, I chat with historian Daniel Hummel about his new book, "The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism." We explore the story behind the Left Behind series, the Scofield Bible, rapture theology, literal bible interpretation and dispensationalism's move from fringe to mainstream. Daniel G. Hummel (PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison) is the director of the Lumen Center in M...

In this episode, I talk with Benjamin MacDonald (Apologetics Canada) about the rise of secularization in the West: what it is, where it came from, and how it’s quietly reshaping not just our culture, but our churches. Ben MacDonald is a theologian, speaker, and educator with a heart for engaging faith and culture. After a brief career in television news, Ben earned his Master of Theology from Acad...

In this episode, I sit down with pastor, author and scholar, Paul Hoffman, to talk about his book "AI Shepherds and Electric Sheep" and to explore how artificial intelligence and digital habits are shaping the way pastors lead, churches function, and disciples are formed. Paul A. Hoffman (PhD, University of Manchester) is associate professor in the Department of Biblical and Religious St...

What kind of man was the Apostle Paul? In this episode, Frank Thielman joins me to explore Paul’s life, mission, and message. We talk about how Paul’s years in chains shaped his message of grace, why he often concealed the deepest parts of his story, and the surprising misconceptions people still carry about him today. Frank Thielman joined Beeson Divinity School faculty in 1989, and teaches cours...

In today's episode I chat with Dave Ripper about his new book Experiencing Scripture as a Disciple of Jesus: Reading the Bible like Dallas Willard. Dave unpacks how Dallas Willard’s vision of the “with-God life” can transform the way Christians approach Scripture—not as a textbook to master, but as a living Word to encounter and experience. Dave Ripper is the lead pastor of Crossway Christian Chur...