TheoDisc Podcast

Freddy Hedley - Worship in the Old Testament

In this episode of TheoDisc Podcast we are looking at Old Testament Foundations for Worship with Dr Freddy Hedley. Often when we look at worship in the Old Testament, it can seem highly ritual, centred on external action, and more focussed on the inaccessibility of a holy God. There’s also a lot of blood which can be difficult to study. But Freddy contends that the foundation of worship in the Hebrew Scriptures is heart, presence, and engaging in relationship with God, and we’re going to unpack that today, and how it might help us think about our contemporary worship contexts. This is a bumper episode, so settle in and enjoy this exploration of Old Testament worship with Freddy Hedley.

Jack Levison - Fresh Air

In episode 44 of TheoDisc, Kenny's guest is is Jack Levison, who has recently released a revised edition of his book Fresh Air. He brings some provocative questions to those of us who are charismatic, about the myriad of ways in which the scriptures describe spirit, both divine and human, and how we experience the work and presence of the Spirit of God in our lives. We hope this conversation will give you some renewed ways to think about the way the Spirit of God is at work in our lives. Enjoy.
Jack Levison is the WJA Power Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and Biblical Hebrew at Southern Methodist University in Texas. He holds a BA from Wheaton Colleger, and MA from Cambridge University and a PhD from Duke University. His areas of research interest include Pneumatology; Interpretation of the Adam and Eve tradition; and Second Temple Judaism and he is the author of multiple books including Filled with the Spirit, In Search of the Spirit, A Boundless God, and Fresh Air. 
Links:
Website: https://people.smu.edu/jacklevison/
Get ‘Fresh Air’: https://amzn.eu/d/9VAyX9H
Listen to Jack’s interview with Lucy Peppiatt, Nick Crawley and Matt Lynch: https://wtctheology.org.uk/theomisc/jack-levison-on-the-holy-spirit/

Ben Blackwell - 'Live' from the WTC Residential

Welcome to this special edition of the TheoDisc podcast which was recorded live at the WTC residential in September 2024. Our Residential is a time when students from all of our Hubs around the UK and Northern Ireland gather together for a week of worship and learning, and we thought it would be fun to record an episode of TheoDisc with our student body as a live audience. 
Our guest was Ben Blackwell who is our current Vice Principal. On the morning of the day we recorded the interview, we announced publicly that Ben would be taking over as Principal for WTC in January and Lucy Peppiatt, our current Principal would assume the role of President of the college. This conversation allowed us to explore Ben’s journey in academic theology, his vision for WTC’s future, and some of his own theological commitments including on the issue of justification.
If you are listening to this on audio, you can check out the video of the interview on our Youtube channel at youtube.com/wtctheology. If you are watching on Youtube, then please subscribe to our podcast on all good podcast providers - find links at wtctheology.org.uk/theodisc 
 

AJ Swoboda - The Gift of Thorns

In episode 42 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with AJ Swoboda about his own experiences and wisdom around the topic of 'Desire'. He is genuinely someone who has wrestled with these things and is eager to help others walk in healing and renewal. In his book, The Gift of Thorns, he helps us to see that desire is actually fundamental to our humanity as God created us. This issue is disordered desire that needs to be brought into the light of God made known in Jesus and healed. We hope you enjoy this episode!
 
SHOW NOTES
Purchase The Gift of Thorns: https://amzn.eu/d/3gcwLwI
Visit AJ’s website: https://ajswoboda.com/
Subscribe to AJ’s Substack, Low-Level Theologian: https://ajswoboda.substack.com/
Listen to the Slow Theology podcast: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/3tpam-19c8dc/Slow-Theology-Simple-Faith-for-Chaotic-Times-Podcast

Jared Michelson - Theology on the Ground

In episode 41 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Jared Michelson, who says that his journey into theological study not only saved his faith, but gave him tools with which to minister to people in the midst of the difficulties they face. Theological study made him a better pastor. It’s certainly what we believe at WTC where we aim to build up the church by equipping people for life work and ministry through Jesus-centred, Spirit-empowered theological study. Their discussion about how theology helps us as we minister on the ground in our everyday contexts, is certainly worth listening to. Enjoy!

Tim Mackie and Lucy Peppiatt - Biblical Studies and Christology

For this standalone TheoDisc episode, we are re-releasing a previous episode where Kenny and Lucy Peppiatt had a chat with Tim Mackie from BibleProject a couple of years ago in Belfast. They found out more about his journey from being purely a biblical scholar, to gaining a deeper understanding of Systematic Theology and Christology, while looking at the early church fathers and mothers, and how it plays such a significant part in shaping and influencing our faith. Enjoy!

Tamara Knudson - Oaths and Vows: Women in the Old Testament

In episode 40 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Tamara Knudson about oaths and vows in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), particularly in the stories of key women figures like Ruth, Hannah and Abigail. Tamara helps us understand the difference between an oath and a vow and how they hold profound and transformative potential as we recognise them in the Scriptural story.
Show Notes
Read Tamara’s thesis on oaths and vows in the Hebrew Bible, ‘She is More to You than Seven Sons’: https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/27441/Thesis-Tamara-Knudson-complete-version.pdf 
Listen to Tamara teaching on Jepthah’s vow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iqLoz-1RVo 
Next Episode
In our next episode, Kenny will be talking about Jared Michelson and the connection between what is often considered ‘high’ or ‘abstract’ theological doctrines and on the ground Christian Ministry.

Dennis Edwards - Humility Illuminated

In episode 39 of TheoDisc, Kenny is joined by Rev Dr Dennis Edwards, who says humility has been misunderstood, manipulated or marginalised, such that it’s been hidden away in a dark corner. But in his book, Humility Illuminated, Dennis wants to recover the biblical roots of humility, its importance for the character of the church, and the way it can bring healing and unity. That is the topic of their conversation, and makes for a brilliant episode. Enjoy!
 
Show Notes
Website: https://www.revdrdre.com/ 
Humility Illuminated Book: https://amzn.eu/d/0d47L0iX
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RevDrDre
 
NEXT EPISODE
In episode 40 of TheoDisc, Dr Tamara Knudson will be sharing from her work on the importance of oaths and vows in the Hebrew Bible, how they push the narrative forward, and particularly as they apply to women.
 

Nijay Gupta - Strange Religion

In episode 38 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Nijay Gupta, who would say that weirdness was actually what made the early church attractive. Nijay’s latest book, Strange Religion, talks about how the First Christians were weird, dangerous and compelling. They spoke about how understanding the way these Christians navigated their world with the message of the gospel can help us in our present time and cultures. Enjoy!
Show Notes:
Strange Religion book: https://amzn.eu/d/3PegyH3
Slow Theology podcast: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/3tpam-19c8dc/Slow-Theology-Simple-Faith-for-Chaotic-Times-Podcast
Crux Sola blog: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/cruxsola/
Next Episode, Rev Dr Dennis Edwards talking about our need to rediscover a much misunderstood, avoided, or forgotten virtue - humility.
 

Terran Williams - Women and Authority in 1 Timothy 2

In episode 37 of TheoDisc, Kenny had a really insightful and helpful conversation with Terran Williams on Paul’s instruction in his first letter to Timothy, commonly translated in our English Bibles as ‘I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man’. They focussed in on what is happening in 1 Tim 2 concerning women teaching and leading in the church. We hope you find it helpful for your own understanding.
More about Terran Williams:Website: terranwilliams.comBook: ‘How God Sees Women: The End of Patriarchy’ https://amzn.eu/d/j1HXwIs Articles for CBE International: https://www.cbeinternational.org/person/terran-williams/
WTC Romans Summer School:Sign up here: https://wtctheology.org.uk/romans-summer-school-24/
 

Murray Rae - Resurrection and Renewal

In episode 36 of TheoDisc, Kenny is joined by Prof Murray Rae, and they address the question: "Why is the resurrection of Jesus important?" Murray works from the narrative of scripture to explore the ways the resurrection influences our understanding of Christ, salvation, the future, mission, the church, and the unfolding purpose of history. They discuss the proclamation, rather than the proving, of the resurrection, and how its experience is an encounter with Jesus that invites us into participation in his resurrection life. Enjoy!
 
You can pre-order Murray's book Resurrection and Renewal: Jesus and the Transformation of Creation here: https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9781540966209/resurrection-and-renewal

Amy Brown Hughes - Virginity in Church History

In episode 35 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Amy Brown Hughes about a topic that has often been left for Youth groups to discuss nervously - that’s the topic of Virginity. In her work in historical theology, Amy has explored the ways that, for the church, virginity has historically been about more than just sexual abstinence, but was a calling, an identification with Christ and the church, and a theological category in its own right. They discuss the ways perceptions of celibacy and marriage have changed, and how we might learn from the early church to reclaim the virtues of chastity, faithfulness, and integrity in our personhood.
Amy teaches Patristics at WTC and is an associate professor of theology at Gordon College. She holds a B.A. in Theology and Historical Studies from Oral Roberts University, a Masters in General History of Christianity and a PhD in historical theology with an emphasis in early Christianity, both from Wheaton College. She is the author (with Lynn Cohick,) of 'Christian Women in the Patristic World. Her research interests include Eastern Christianity, trinitarian and christological thought, Christian asceticism, theological anthropology, and highlighting the contributions of minority voices to theology, especially those of women. She is also a co-host for the theology stream of the biblical studies and theology podcast OnScript.

Justin Brierley - The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God

In episode 34 of TheoDisc, we ask the question: "Are there signs in the west that attitudes towards God and faith are shifting?" That’s the hope presented by our guest for this episode, Justin Brierley. Justin has been hosting and leading conversations for some time around Christian apologetics, inter-faith dialogue, theological debate, and the place of Christianity within western culture.
Kenny and Justin talked about his latest book and accompanying podcast called ‘The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God’. You may have also seen Justin’s recent piece in the Spectator magazine titled ‘A Christian Revival is Under Way in Britain’. Justin contends that there is a developing shift in western culture towards an openness to faith in God, accompanied by voices both Christian and secular who are asking new, or perhaps old, questions in the wake of a foundational fracturing of a purely atheistic materialist worldview.
Connect with Justin here:
Website: justinbrierley.com
Surprising Rebirth in Belief in God Book & Podcast: https://justinbrierley.com/the-surprising-rebirth-of-belief-in-god/
Spectator article: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/a-christian-revival-is-under-way-in-britain
Justin’s interview with WTC Principal Lucy Peppiatt: https://www.premier.plus/the-profile/podcasts/episodes/lucy-peppiatt-what-st-paul-really-said-about-women
Follow Justin: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brierley.justin
Twitter -  https://twitter.com/JusBrierley

Stephen Dempster - The Return of the Kingdom

In episode 33 of Theodisc, we’re thinking about ‘kingdom’ as the overarching theme of the whole biblical story - this idea that if you step back and observe the entire sweep of the Scriptural narrative, the image of God as the coming king becomes evident. Kenny had a chat with Dr Stephen Dempster, who has just written a book called ‘The Return of the Kingdom: A Biblical Theology of God’s Reign’ and we are delighted and privileged to have him on the podcast.

Paulus de Jong - Echoes of Exodus in John

In episode 32 of TheoDisc Podcast, Kenny is joined by Paulus de Jong as they explore allusions from John's Gospel to the book of Exodus, and how seeing those links make us better readers of John's Gospel. Enjoy!

Jared Patrick Boyd - Finding Freedom in Constraint

In this episode, Kenny speaks with Jared Patrick Boyd about the danger of seeing Spiritual formation as a mere Christian lifestyle fad, the purpose of spiritual disciplines as more than just helpful habits but to make visible our interior world, and how Spiritual Formation only fully benefits us on our journey to Christlikeness if we pursue it in community.
Jared Patrick Boyd is a teacher, pastor, spiritual director, and founder of the Order of the Common Life, a missional monastic order reimagining religious vocations for the whole church for the twenty-first century. He is part of VineyardUSA and is the author of Imaginative Prayer: A Yearlong Guide to Your Child’s Spiritual Formation and the book we are talking about today: Finding Freedom in Constraint: Reimagining Spiritual Disciplines as a Communal Way of Life.  Now, here’s our conversation.