Throughout Scripture and church history, women have been central to the mission of God. But all too often women have lacked opportunities to minister fully. Many churches lack visible examples of women in ministry and leadership. This can and should be changed. Scot and Tara Beth continue their conversation about how women can be emboldened to do the ministry they are gifted to do. When women teach, preach, lead, evangelize, pastor, and disciple, the church's imagination expands to better reflec...
Jun 15, 2017•33 min
Why have women been silenced & not allowed to lead in the Church? Scot McKnight is a leading advocate for empowering women to be a part of every sphere of church leadership and work. Tara Beth Leach (Sr. Pastor of PazNaz) joins him to help tackle this conversation. This controversial topic always has the potential to be divisive and unproductive. In order for the Church to be all it can be we need to be more informed and thoughtful when it comes to the conversation about Women leading in the...
Jun 08, 2017•23 min
How does one be Christ like in a non-Christ like world? Scot explores how 1 Peter sheds light on the answer to this question. In this letter the Apostle Peter shows that Christ’s life is the pattern for our faith. It also is the path to face unchristian behavior in the world. Scot shares three specific ways that Peter challenges his audience to respond in the face of evil. Interested in reading the article by Tish Warren that Scot Mentions? You can find it here: http://goo.gl/kAExLI Would you li...
Jun 01, 2017•29 min
Is there ever a time to delight in the defeat of an enemy? Scot shows from the temptation of Jesus how Satan was defeated in and through Jesus’ victory over Satan’s temptation. The temptation of Jesus is one of the high points of drama in the story of his life and ministry. Jesus is a part of a much bigger cosmic battle where he proves to be victorious and leads his followers in victory through following Him. If you would like to register or would like more info on Northern Seminary’s Theology a...
May 26, 2017•31 min
Salvation by Allegiance Alone (Conversation with Dr. Matthew Bates) - KR 51 by Scot McKnight
May 18, 2017•40 min
What does it look like for a fellowship of differents to take root? Books of the Bible like Paul’s letter to Philemon are incredible treasures for the present day Church because they are a real life example of how difficult issues got worked out in mission. It is easy to be idealistic about a vision taking root, but it is another thing all together for it actually to happen. Scot and Geoff talk about how this happened with Philemon and how it can happen for the Church today. If you would like to...
May 11, 2017•30 min
Vision is necessary for any type of movement to take root. Paul had a vision from God on what the local church should look like. This unique and inclusive vision for Paul’s churches was able to take root so powerfully through embracing the great gospel experiment. Paul’s challenge for the church was to live out this vision that demonstrates to the world God is creating a new community that embodies God’s redemptive work in Christ. Be sure not to miss an episode of Kingdom Roots with Scot McKnigh...
May 04, 2017•23 min
Have you ever had to give up something of value to gain something else of greater value? In these parables Jesus illuminates the fact that following Jesus in discipleship is costly, but also well worth the cost. There is great joy that comes when the true value of Jesus’ Kingdom is discovered and embraced. Jim Elliott captures it well when he says, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Be sure not to miss an episode of Kingdom Roots with Scot McKnight by subs...
Apr 27, 2017•29 min
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) - KR 47 by Scot McKnight
Apr 21, 2017•45 min
The good news of Jesus’ resurrection breaks the bonds and power of death. Jesus intended this powerful reality to be deeply rooted in the Church. There is an incredible story Jesus invites everyone to take part in through the resurrection. Join in this week’s conversation to discover the implications the resurrection has for followers of Jesus and His community. The resurrection is the biggest “IF” in all of history because if it is true all of life changes with it.
Apr 13, 2017•30 min
Following the Church calendar is one of the most powerful ways to embrace and be shaped by the gospel in discipleship. God has blessed the Church with the Church calendar as an opportunity to physically remember and be transformed by embodying the greatest events of God’s people. Scot shares about his journey of paying more attention to the Church calendar and why he began to spend more time remembering the great events of God through embodying them in the Church calendar. Suggested Resources: S...
Apr 06, 2017•31 min
The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-35) Imagine a world with more forgiveness. It has been said that withholding forgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die. Jesus uses this powerful parable not just as an illustration about forgiveness, but also as an invitation into a deeper relationship with God through forgiveness. The reciprocal nature of God’s grace is such that when it is given it creates the opportunity to deepen the relationship with a responding gift. At...
Mar 24, 2017•36 min
What kind of party does God like to throw? Jesus’ parable of the lost son reveals the heart of God about those who are far from Him. It is clear that God celebrates the worst of sinners coming to Him and invites all to the celebration. Jesus captures our imagination once again in this parable he invites us to join the celebration of redemption like only He can throw.
Mar 17, 2017•30 min
Stories have power. No matter what you think about Jesus, no one can deny that he was a master storyteller. Jesus’ stories or parables were used to invite listeners to imagine a world saturated in Kingdom living. These stories inspire, disrupt, and sometimes even trick us into understanding the truth. In this episode Scot and Chaz have a conversation with Scott Reed about the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. This parable shocks the listener into hearing some important truths when it comes to God’...
Feb 24, 2017•34 min
Scot's Trip to Israel - KR 41 by Scot McKnight
Feb 16, 2017•32 min
Communicating a message in public is one of the difficult tasks in the world. Bill Shiell, President of Northern Seminary, shares insights throughout history about how communication happens. He explains the power that comes from what happens when the Bible is communicated in the Church. The skill of communicating the message well is important when it comes to how it is received by its audience. President Shiell teaches preaching at Northern and shares the most valuable elements that help the mes...
Feb 03, 2017•38 min
Behind every great scientist is a great story. Scot has a conversation with Dennis Venema about his scientific journey of unpacking the human genome and how that affected his faith journey. Also in this episode, Dennis takes the complexity of the human genome and makes it simple to understand by any audience. Dennis Venema is professor of biology at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia and a fellow of Biology with Biologos. Preorder Adam and the Genome here: http://goo.gl/Tfmm...
Jan 26, 2017•33 min
What can science shed light about reading the Bible? Genetic science has made some incredible discoveries lately. In this episode of Kingdom Roots Scot shares his story of why he opened his mind about reading Genesis in light of scientific study. Readers of the Bible need to be sensitive to scientific study and Scot shows how that sensitivity can lead readers of the Bible to a deeper understanding of the ancient near east. Preorder Adam and the Genome here: http://goo.gl/Tfmme7 If you want to ha...
Jan 19, 2017•29 min
What would it have looked like to have the Apostle Paul as your Pastor? In this episode of Kingdom Roots, Scot investigates what people think about when they think of the word pastor. There are four major models of pastoral responsibilities that Scot sheds light on and invites the Apostle Paul to speak into. Studying Paul as a pastor is necessary if the Kingdom is going to take root now as it took root for Paul and the early church. If there is any way we can help you or your ministry please don...
Jan 12, 2017•38 min
The majority of earth’s inhabitants believe in angels. Yet many of us cannot claim to have seen one. Why? Perhaps it’s because in order to encounter one, we first have to learn what to look for and how to look! We live in a world where the natural and supernatural overlap. Angels are constantly on mission from God and constantly at work in the world. From the Garden of Eden to the book of Revelation, Scripture is filled with hundreds of references to these wondrous creatures. In this episode of ...
Dec 30, 2016•31 min
What is the future of Evangelicalism? Scot begins to answer this question and more by defining how the term “Evangelical” has been used and how the people who claim the title have engaged in society. The story of Evangelicalism is a fascinating one. Scot makes some very important suggestions on what the Church as a whole can learn from the good and bad parts of Evangelicalism. Suggested Resources for further study: The Dominance of Evangelicalism by David Bebbington (http://goo.gl/JDC71N) Mine E...
Dec 23, 2016•26 min
Beverly Gaventa explains how when reading the book of Romans, we often focus on the quotable passages, making brief stopovers and not staying long enough to grasp some of the big ideas it contains. She invites readers of Romans to linger in Romans and to consider Paul’s admonition, how Abraham is involved in Paul’s message, and how worship is expressed in ethics. Suggested Resources: When in Romans: An Invitation to Linger with the Gospel according to Paul by Beverly Gaventa (http://goo.gl/DPxwB...
Dec 16, 2016•37 min
What really were the dynamics of the first Christmas? Hallmark and Santa Clause have all but totally hijacked the Christmas season. When we really investigate the true story of Christmas we find a story dripping with scandal, surrender, sacrifice and social revolution. The Church is currently in the season of Advent where it is awaiting the coming of Jesus into the world. If the Church is to let the Kingdom take root then it will have to embrace and be encouraged by the reality of how the real C...
Dec 08, 2016•35 min
How can we pray like Jesus? The Jewish people Jesus grew up with were a praying people. Scot guides us on a journey into the depths of prayer in first century Judaism and explains how Jesus anchors His understanding of prayer in Jewish prayer. Prayer is an essential part of Kingdom living. This episode will help you allow prayer to build deeper roots in your life. Suggested Resources: Praying with the Church by Scot McKnight (http://goo.gl/09E1gy) The Divine Hours, Pocket Edition by Phyllis Tick...
Nov 23, 2016•29 min
What is the central thing for the Church? There are so many things that inevitably work to splinter the Church. However, if the Church intentionally roots itself in the central things such as the Gospel of Jesus, then not even divisive issues such as an election can divide the Church. Scot gives a vision for how to keep the central things central while adopting and adapting implications from the Gospel to the culture in which the Church exists. Suggested Resources: Books: The King Jesus Gospel b...
Nov 11, 2016•29 min
“If we only get the right person in the right political office, then all will be well.” Scot explains why this is such a dangerous and damaging way to approach politics as Christians representing the Church. The good news is that even if Christians disagree on politics, there is a way to be faithfully present as the Kingdom of God in the midst of governments of the world. Suggested Resources: Kingdom Conspiracy: Returning to the Radical Mission of the Local Church by Scot McKnight (http://goo.gl...
Nov 03, 2016•30 min
In our quest to renew the church, Christians have walked through seeker-friendly, emergent, missional, and other movements to develop new expressions of the body of Christ. Now in the post-Christian world in North America we're asking the question again: Is there a way to be the church that engages the world, not by judgment nor accommodation but by becoming the good news in our culture? In this episode of Kingdom Roots, Scot has a conversation with noted pastor, scholar, and his friend David Fi...
Oct 21, 2016•34 min
Have you ever wondered why certain books seem to be left out of the Bible? Scot addresses this question and more about the Cannon, Apocrypha literature, and Pseudepigrapha literature. Scot gives a vision for the value that Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha literature have for readers of the Bible even though they are not inspired and authoritative. Interested in learning more about Northern? Attend Northern’s Open House on Tuesday, Novemeber 15 at 6pm CST. Learn more and register at http://www.semina...
Oct 13, 2016•28 min
What happened when Jesus came to Earth? The Apocalyptic Paul camp suggests Jesus’ coming was a sudden disruptive in breaking of God’s redemptive plan at the cosmic level. They claim Jesus’ coming completely shatters all that we know about God and defines the revelation of God. In this episode, Scot breaks down how this camp of Pauline study arose and it’s significance for the Church today. Suggested Resources: 1) The Apocalyptic Gospel in Galatians by J. Louis Martyn (http://int.sagepub.com/cont...
Oct 06, 2016•28 min
Kingdom Questions Part 2 Community life marked by the Kingdom may be the most unique fellowship the world has ever seen. Scot tackles difficult questions around the subject of the Jew + Gentile vision for the church. This vision leads to more pressing questions for today on the expression of diversity that should be taking root in churches today. Suggested Resource: Korie Edward’s book The Elusive Dream (goo.gl/g6ZYCX) Do you have a question for Scot? Occasionally, Scot will be fielding your que...
Sep 23, 2016•34 min
