TheoDisc Podcast

Nick Crawley - Bible for Life

In this episode, Kenny chats with Rev Nick Crawley about engaging with the Bible in meaningful ways and how this grounds our discipleship. Enjoy!
Episode 20 Outline:
Start-01:31 - Introduction.
01:31-04:10 - Welcome to Nick and 3 questions.
04:19-13:03 - How did Bible for Life get started? What has your own journey with the Bible been like? How can Christians engage more with the habit of studying the scriptures?
13:11-26:50 - Discussion of the book of 1 Thessalonians based on the 'whole book' idea. What are some of the ways you recommend others to dig into the Bible in this way? What are some of the tools on the Bible for Life website?
27:01-30:10 - What effect has Dallas Willard had on you personally and also on the approach of Bible for Life?
30:18-End - Close and further information.
 

Jack Johnson - Prayer

In this episode, Jack and Kenny go on an exploration of prayer and how our understanding of the nature, attributes, and character of God gives ground to our efforts in prayer. Happy listening!
Episode 18 Outline:
Start-01:31 - Introduction.
01:31-04:25 - Welcome to Jack and 3 questions.
04:25-14:28 - You quote Evagrius Ponticus, who says: "If you're a theologian, you truly pray; if you truly pray, you're a theologian." What then is the connection between our understanding of God (our theology) and our prayer life? Why has the work you've done on prayer been important to you? What are the different types of prayer and their implications?
14:28-29:20 - When we expect God to act on our prayers, specifically through petition or lament, what are the underlying theologies within our expectations? What are we getting into when we're asking God to respond to our prayers? What are some of the implications?
29:20-32:35 - What does it mean for God to be omniscient and for us to have a will, in a practical sense, for us to pray?
32:35-End - Closing prayer and further information.
 

Matt Lynch - Flood and Fury

In this episode, Kenny and Matt Lynch discussed passages in the Old Testament like the flood and the conquest of Canaan, that on the surface contain moments of troubling violence. But Matt contends that a closer and slower reading of passages like these can actually reveal a critique of violence and show us more of the goodness and mercy of God. We hope this episode will help bring some clarity to some of the difficult questions raised when we read the Old Testament, particularly in light of the God we see revealed in Jesus Christ.
Episode 18 Outline:
Start-01:31 - Introduction.
01:31-04:54 - Welcome to Matt and 3 questions.
05:03-13:33 - What led you to write Flood and Fury? Is the Old Testament a language we don't understand anymore? How has our discomfort around the passages of violence contributed to our general inability to connect with the Old Testament? What kind of approach you would advocate for when reading violent texts?
13:41-30:36 - You help to sharpen our focus on the contrast between shalom and violence presented in Genesis 1–11. How does this reframe the dilemma God faces in the flood narrative? In reading the Book of Joshua, can you help us make sense of how God would command Israel to totally destroy the Canaanites, including men, women, children, and animals?
30:45-34:02 - I was struck by your observation that Jesus shows us the kind of person it’s possible to become with a deep immersion in, and understanding of, the Hebrew Bible. That must mean there’s hope for us as his disciples? How does the character of God revealed in Jesus act as a culmination of the Old Testament narrative instead of being in conflict with it? How would you encourage people to engage more with the Old Testament?
34:02-End - Close and further information.
 

Matthew Bates - Why the Gospel?

This conversation revolves around Matthew’s latest book Why the Gospel? Matthew has contended that the “good news” of the gospel is the proclamation that Jesus is King, but why is this message necessary and what difference can it make in our lives? Enjoy.
Episode 17 Outline:
Start-01:46 - Introduction.
01:46-05:06 - Welcome to Matthew and 3 questions.
05:15-10:05 - Discussion about Matthew's latest book 'Why the Gospel?' and how our understanding of the Gospel has been malformed and its presentation incomplete.
10:13-18:19 - In his new book, Matthew refers to 'Christ' not being Jesus' last name, but a reference to his authority. How does this affect our sharing of the Gospel?
18:27-30:38 - Why do we have the Gospel? How do you address this in the book?
30:46-34:43 - In our allegiance to Jesus the King, how can we invite others into this kingdom in a healthy way? How do we address faith and doubt?
34:43-End - Close and further information.
 

Jason Myers - Paul, Politics, and Pragmatism

In this episode of TheoDisc, Kenny talks with Dr Jason Myers about how Paul’s attempts to help the church navigate life under the Imperial rule of Rome can inform our own approach as kingdom witnesses in our context. Enjoy.
Episode 16 Outline:
Start-01:31 - Introduction.
01:31-06:01 - Welcome to Jason and 3 questions.
06:09-16:28 - Paul was operating in the context of the Roman Empire, and we sometimes miss the nuances of what his political views were like. Could we sketch out a rough picture of what this empire was like and how Paul operated in this context? Paul seems to communicate to the church that they are an alternative society… that they are citizens of another kingdom. What kind of tension would this introduce?
16:37-26:21 - The language of Paul’s letters is so familiar to many of us that it’s difficult to see that many of the things Paul wrote had the potential to be politically inflammatory. Could we talk about some of those terms that have lost their edge with familiarity? What do you think of the pastoral language Paul uses with the church in the midst of empire?
26:29-34:52 - In our context today, what does Paul have to say to us as a church about how we need to think about the political cultures around us and how we express the kingdom of God in that and navigate it in a faithful way?
34:52-End - Close and further information.
 

Adesola Akala - Glory in the Gospel of John

In episode 15 of TheoDisc, we spoke about the theme of Glory in the New Testament. In the preamble to his gospel, John declares of the Son, the Word made flesh, “We have seen his glory”. We explored what this glory means in relation to God, to the early witnesses of Christ, and to us today. Enjoy.
Episode 15 Outline:
Start-01:31 - Introduction.
01:31-05:38 - Welcome to Adesola and 3 questions.
05:46-18:18 - To start, could we define the word 'glory' in a biblical context? When we open John’s Gospel, the prologue presents us with numerous symbols - how will John be using these throughout his gospel? What prominence does John give to the Father-Son relationship we see in terms of God's self-revelation?
18:26-28:06 - How does John flesh out throughout his gospel, how people have 'seen' the glory of the Father revealed through Jesus? When Jesus prays for his disciples in John 17:22, and says: “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one”, what does that participation look like?
28:15-34:42 - How can we continue to participate in the story of God’s glory and how can we see God’s glory revealed in and through us to the world around us?
34:51-End - Close and further information.
 

Ali Blacklee Whittall – Seeing the Women of the OT

For many of us, our reading of the Old Testament has been formed in a theological environment that has obscured the often subversive nature of the Bible’s presentation of women and led to interpretations that can be harmful to women. But what if there was a way to read the Hebrew Scriptures faithfully by bringing our honest questions to the sometimes troubling details of the narratives concerning women and wrestling with what we find, in order to reclaim these stories and communicate the truth of women’s equality with men before God in the context in which we currently live. That’s the conversation Kenny had with Ali Blacklee Whittall for this episode.
This episode contains discussion of sexual assault, abuse, and violence against women. If you would like more information on the issues discussed, or to get help if you are affected, then please see below for links.
Episode 14 Outline:
Start-01:38 - Introduction.
01:46-05:08 - Welcome to Ali and 3 questions.
05:16-10:17 - How did 'Seeing the Women of the Old Testament' become a research interest for you? Why do we tend to gravitate towards highlighting the men of the OT rather than the women? 
10:25-18:23 - How do we maintain a faithful posture towards the Scriptures while at the same time acknowledging the problematic texts that include violence and abuse?
18:32-28:00 - Focusing specifically on the Book of Judges, could you give us an example of how we can recover the stories of women in the OT that have been obscured and silenced by our established readings? How then do Judges and Ruth segue to consolidate the central message?
28:09-33:39 - How can this approach to Scripture then help us now to communicate the value of women in our contemporary context? 
33:47-End - Closing prayer and further information.
Organisations that could help:
Restored - restored-uk.orgAn international Christian Alliance working with and through the church to transform relationships and end violence against women.
Report into churches in the UK: ‘In Churches Too: Church Responses to Domestic Abuse.’
Press Red - pressred.org/Educates, equips, and empowers on the issues of violence and abuse against women and girls. 
Women’s Aid - womensaid.org.uk / Tel: 0505 200 0247A national organisation which provides advice, support and a 24hr abuse helpline. 
National Domestic Violence Helpline - nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk / Tel: 0808 200 0247If you have been personally affected by abuse or violence or are still in an abusive or violent relationship you can get help. It‘s a confidential 24 hour service. 
Refuge - refuge.org.uk / Tel: 0808 200 0247 (24 hour) / Email: info@refuge.org.ukOffers support, in partnership with Women’s Aid, to help women and children escaping domestic violence. 
Respect Men’s Advice Line - mensadviceline.org.uk / Tel: 0808 801 0327Helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.
ManKind Initiative - mankind.org.uk / Tel:01823 334 244Helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.

Ruth Perrin and Ed Earnshaw - Student Ministry

In episode 13 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Ruth Perrin and Ed Earnshaw about emerging adults and how the church can be more proactive in reaching out to students in today's context...
Episode 13 Outline:
Start-00:57 – Introduction.
01:01-05:27 – Welcome to Ruth and Ed, and 3 questions.
05:35-15:39 – Discussion about Ruth’s research into emerging adults and looking at the differences between Millennials and Generation Z.
15:47-23:54 – What is the current attitude of students towards faith and spirituality? What are the opportunities for the church in reaching the student generation?
24:02-31:41 – How can we encourage people in our churches to invest in outreach to students in our areas?
31:50-End – Info about the Student Ministry GradDip, close and further information.
 

Jasper Knecht - Reading the Scriptures with the Early Church

In episode 12 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Jasper Knecht. Jasper teaches Christian Doctrine at WTC. He grew up in the Netherlands, and completed his PhD in Systematic and Historical Theology at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. His interests include the history of doctrine, and particularly the development of Christological thought in the Patristic era, Late Antiquity, and the Early Medieval Church. Jasper is married to Stefania and is a big fan of classical music.
In this conversation, Jasper and Kenny talked about how the early church provides a rich field of study of the Scriptures for the Charismatic church of today. Topics like exegesis, sola scriptura, allegory, and historical critical method abounded in our discussion, and it was truly fascinating. We hope you enjoy it!

Christine Westhoff - Reframing the Prophetic

In episode 11 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Christine Westhoff. Chris serves on the Int’l team for 24-7 Prayer, and is the founder of Akouo Missions. She is also the author and developer of ReFraming the Prophetic, a biblical reflection course on the gift and purpose of the prophetic. You can find out more at reframingtheprophetic.com
In our conversation, Chris unpacked some of the misapplication and misunderstandings of prophetic gifting that she sees in churches, and speaks about her passion to see this vital gift flourishing across the church in a healthy, scriptural and vibrant way. We hope you enjoy this episode!

Danny Hampson – Theology & Ministry

In episode 10 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Danny Hampson. Danny and his family live and minister in Ibiza as part of 24/7 Prayer and, he is also completing a Masters with WTC. In our conversation we talked about the real Ibiza, the necessity of continual prayer for our awareness of God’s kingdom at work, how theological awareness impacts day to day ministry, and Danny’s MA dissertation which focuses on a trinitarian perspective on peace. We hope you enjoy it!
Episode 10 Outline:
Start-00:59 - Introduction 
01:07-03:11 - Welcome to Danny and 3 questions.
03:20-10:35 - Tell us about your work with 24/7 Prayer in Ibiza... How did you end up there with 24/7 Prayer and what is the Ibiza you have experienced?
10:42-21:45 -  What are some of the things you are involved in with 24/7 Prayer on Ibiza? What does it look like on a practical basis?
21:53-28:42 - Tell us about your Masters with WTC and your dissertation on a trinitarian perspective on peace.
28:50-End - Close and further information
 

Bev Murrill - The Leadership Landscape

In episode 9 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Bev Murrill about emerging from, and feeling the effects of, the pandemic on church life and practice. They ask what lessons have been learned from that time, and what might church leadership and community look like going forward? Enjoy!
Episode 9 Outline:
Start-00:59 - Introduction 
01:07-04:55 - Welcome to Bev and 3 questions.
05:02-15:23 - Tell us about your own leadership journey and about what you felt God saying to you at the beginning of and during the pandemic. What are some of the lessons you've learned during this time? 
15:30-29:54 - Can you tell us more about social cohesion erosion as a result of the pandemic in church communities? Has this led to the death of the 'church machine' and a sense of disillusionment? How can we encourage church leaders who are struggling now? 
30:02-33:47 - What does the future of church and church leadership look like for you?
33:55-End - Close and further information
 

Steve Watts - Church History & Humility

In episode 8 of the TheoDisc Podcast, Kenny chats with Dr Steve Watts about the cultural arrogance borne from ignorance of the context of church history, contrasted with the potential for humility, self-aware insight, and faithful witness. They look at how we can be empowered by a healthy engagement with church history. Enjoy!
Episode 8 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction 
01:24-07:01 - Welcome to Steve and 3 questions.
07:09-16:06 - How does our knowledge of history affect our perspective on it? Why has our abandonment of engaging with the history of the church come to be seen as a virtuous and spiritual shedding of a stale and deathly religious expression?
16:15-31:31 - In what ways do we gain a healthy perspective on church history while maintaining a posture of humility?
31:39-36:00 - How can we shift our attention from the heroes and villains to a more holistic view of history?
36:10-45:28 - How can we become more self-aware in our knowledge and also apply it to our witness in our world today? 
45:37-End - Close and further information
 

Janey Lawry-White - Why Study Theology?

In this episode, Kenny chats with Janey Lawry-White about why it's important to study theology in today’s climate. Janey not only oversees all operations full-time at WTC, she has also studied on the GradDip and is currently doing the MA, so really knows what she’s talking about!
Episode 7 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction 
01:24-04:14 - Welcome to Janey and 3 questions.
04:23-07:33 - Discussion about the accessibility of theological study.
07:42-15:00 - What was your own experience of studying theology and what were some obstacles to study? How transformative has it been for you to study theology?
15:09-21:23 - What are some of the key theological nuggets you've discovered on your own journey?
21:32-30:21 - How have you experienced academic study and the work of the Holy Spirit working together? How would you encourage others who feel they have enough 'Bible things' in their lives? What are the things that have brought you closer to God through your studies?
30:28-32:55 - What would be your encouragement be for those who definitely think that to study theology is not for them?. 
32:55-End - Close and further information
 

Tim Mackie - Biblical Studies and Christology

For our Christmas special TheoDisc episode, Kenny Innes and Lucy Peppiatt had a chat with Tim Mackie from BibleProject at 24-7 Prayer's 'The Gathering' in Belfast. They found out more about his journey from being purely a biblical scholar, to gaining a deeper understanding of Systematic Theology and looking at the early church fathers and mothers, and how it plays such a significant part in shaping and influencing our faith. Enjoy!
Episode 5 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction 
01:24-05:01 - Welcome to Tim and 3 questions.
05:01-09:33 - Lucy and Tim, how did you guys meet?
09:33-18:05 - What are some of the conversations you've been having around Christology, particularly, and how have your disciplines of Systematics and Biblical Studies overlapped?
18:05-25:56 - In the context of the Incarnation, what were people's conceptions of God, particularly from an Old Testament perspective, and how did the person of Jesus influence them in that context?
25:56-38:40 - Tim, what are your thoughts on the way in which the early church viewed Jesus' incarnational nature and the church fathers who then defended a high Christology?
38:40-46:29 - Tim talks about a big misconception he'd had about the early centuries of the church and how it became very personal for him. 
46:29-50:48 - Kenny tries to wrap up the conversation... And then Tim and Lucy talk more about Christology, but in our different contexts today. Tim finishes by talking about where to start when attempting to read the church fathers.
50:48-End - Close and further information
 

Bob Ekblad - Christian Nationalism

In episode 5, we look at how Christian Nationalism is a present danger in the US and to some extent the UK in its pursuit of power and exclusion over love and service.
Bob also has a podcast called Disciple. You can listen to it HERE.
Episode 5 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction 
01:24-04:30 - Welcome to Bob and 3 questions.
04:30-07:31 - What do you mean when you talk about 'Christian Nationalism?
07:31-12:04 - How do you see the idea of Christian Nationalism being played out in the USA, particularly in the church, at the moment?
12:04-16:36 - How does assigning a divine value on a nation state affect how we view Jesus and his kingdom? How does the idea of justice fit into us exalting our nations? 
16:36-19:23 - In what ways has Christian Nationalism united groups that were previously fairly divided?
19:23-24:15 - Can we look at ways in which we can resist this notion that our nation's future is wrapped up in the future of the Kingdom of God? How can we practically and prophetically speak and work against that?
24:15-30:00 - Do you think that if our focus is on a centralised national power, does it pull us away from the margins where we see Jesus at work in the Gospels?
30:00-End - Closing prayer and further information