How do you live as a faithful Christian in such politically polarized times? How do you follow Jesus and participate in politics? How do you be salt and light in the world and love your neighbour well and contribute politically to our society? There are so many pressing questions like these when it comes to the relationship with between faith and politics. Thankfully there are people like Miranda Zapor Cruz who providing biblical answers! I was so privileged to get to talk to Miranda today about...
Sep 12, 2024•55 min•Ep. 63
In today's episode I chat with Tod Bolsinger about his new four book series, Practicing Change. In our conversation Tod briefly unpacks each book in the series, walking me through what it looks like to lead a church through positive change and transformation in the midst of crisis and resistance, while building trust and staying on mission. If you are a Christian leader of any sort, Tod's new series is a must read, and hopefully this episode is a good precursor to it! Tod Bolsinger is the founde...
Sep 10, 2024•45 min•Ep. 62
Today I had the chance to chat with Kevin Gushiken about his new book out of Kregel Press, “A Theology of Play: Learning to Enjoy Life as God intended.” It is such a unique topic of study and one that hasn’t received that much focus. To think that God created play, gives us the freedom and permission to play, and that he actually delights in his people playing. How incredible! In our conversation, I asked Kevin every question about play that came up for me as I read his book. I hope they are que...
Sep 04, 2024•53 min•Ep. 61
I had the wonderful privilege today of getting to speak with, author and biblical scholar Christopher Ash. Ash has most recently released through Crossway a four volume commentary called The Psalms: A Christ Centred Commentary, which was the topic of our conversation today. We talked about how to find Christ in the Psalms, how to read the Psalms of vengeance, how important the Psalms are to the church, and many more things to do with the beauty and intricacy of the Psalms I hope you enjoy, are b...
Sep 03, 2024•59 min•Ep. 60
Just ten simple things that have helped me be more disciplined in and get more out of my time in God's Word. Maybe they'll be helpful to you too! 1. Read it daily. 2. Read it in strange places. 3. Read it while you’re waiting. 4. Read it with multiple bookmarks. 5. Read it with a plan. 6. Read the Psalms once a month. 7. Buy new Bibles because you wear them out. 8. Read it with a commentary 9. Read it without rushing. 10. Read it with prayer.
Aug 27, 2024•13 min•Ep. 59
I had the awesome privileged today of getting to talk to pastor and author, Mark Vroegop about his latest book, “Waiting isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life." Our conversation covered, among other things, the motivation for the book, why waiting is both normal and difficult, how it is an opportunity for Christ to shine in and through us, and how waiting can reveal the idolatrous parts of our hearts. Hope you enjoy, that you are encouraged and challe...
Aug 22, 2024•45 min•Ep. 58
There is an old adage that goes something like this, "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” Now let me reword it for you and ask it again, “What you would attempt for Christ, if you knew His love for you could not fail?”
Aug 20, 2024•47 min•Ep. 57
Today's conversation is with Professor of History and Christian thought, Dr. Timothy Larsen. Dr. Larsen's latest project is the reissue of a powerful devotional from the 19th century Scottish author and minister, George MacDonald, Diary of an Old Soul, in which Dr. Larsen provides an introduction and explanatory notes throughout the book. We talked lots about George Donald, about his Christian faith, his influence on people like Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, the uniqueness and ongoing relevance of thi...
Aug 15, 2024•50 min•Ep. 56
Today I was joined by New Testament Professor and Bible Translator Dr. Mark Strauss, to talk about his new book, 40 Questions About Bible Translation. Our conversation ranged from gender neutral decisions in the NIV, to the difficulties, challenges and ongoing debates in Bible Translation, to the differences between a translation and paraphrase. Hope you enjoy and that you are left both challenged and encouraged! Dr. Mark L. Strauss serves as Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary, where ...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 55
Rejection always hurts, no matter what I am being rejected from. It always makes me squirm; makes me want to disappear. And yet, I have come to realize through the years and over the course of many rejections that God can and does use rejection in my life to do a myriad of beautiful things. These days, even though rejection is still uncomfortable, I find myself almost eagerly anticipating it because of what I know God is going to do through it and how He is going to be glorified by it....
Aug 09, 2024•9 min•Ep. 54
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Aug 06, 2024•3 min•Ep. 53
In today's conversation I chat with New Testament Scholar, Dr. James McGrath, about his most recent books, The A to Z of the New Testament: Things Experts Know That Everyone Else Should Too, as well as Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist. Dr. McGrath discusses, among other things, whether the eye of the needle really was a gate in the city wall, if there is a book in the Bible called Revelations, and if John the Baptist was a lone hermit or a charming herald. I hope you enjoy our conversatio...
Aug 06, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 52
In today's episode I have the privilege of talking to Jeff Medders and Doug Logan Jr. about their new book "The Soul Winning Church: Six Keys to Fostering a Genuine Evangelistic Culture." In our conversation Jeff and Doug share about the their individual experiences in the church that led to this book being written; why they think we struggle so hard as churches to focus on soul-winning; and how we keep evangelism from just becoming another ministry in the church. The book is published by The Go...
Jul 22, 2024•55 min•Ep. 51
Are there any biblical reasons for Christians to at least get in control of their smart phone use? I think there are lots of reasons but I will just give you 10!
Jul 18, 2024•11 min•Ep. 50
Who are the poor in spirit and how on earth does the Kingdom of God belong to them?
Jul 17, 2024•15 min•Ep. 49
In part three of our ongoing series, "A Conversation About Church," Ben and I discuss where the local church should fit in our lives in terms of priorities. What should be our commitment level to the church? How involved should we be? Is the church important? Essential? Optional? What if we've been hurt by/in the church?
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 48
Today I was privileged to be joined by Biblical Scholar, Dr. Peter Bolt. In my conversation with Dr. Bolt we discussed, among other things, the Gospel of Mark, some of his work in the area of demonology, and a few of his favourite writings from Karl Barth. Dr. Bolt is the Director of Academic Strategy at Sydney College of Divinity, the founding Director of the Centre for Gospels and Acts Research, the editor of the Journal of Gospel and Acts Research, and a member of the Editorial Board of SCD P...
Jul 10, 2024•58 min•Ep. 47
To be entered into a monthly theological book raffle just SUBSCRIBE and then send an email to ryleypod@gmail.com with the word SUBSCRIBE.
Jul 06, 2024•3 min•Ep. 46
Today I was joined by pastor, professor and biblical counselor, Dr. Ernie Baker. Our conversation focused primarily on the topics in Dr. Baker's latest book and contribution to the biblical counseling world, Biblical Counseling and the Psychologies. Dr. Baker (D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary) serves First Baptist Church as the Interim Senior Adult Pastor. He is also a professor at The Master’s University (Santa Clarita, CA) where he continues to serve as the chair of the online biblical...
Jun 12, 2024•59 min•Ep. 45
In Luke 10 Jesus encounters Mary and her sister Martha and it is a powerful picture of the distracting dangers of serving Him rather than sitting with Him.
Jun 06, 2024•16 min•Ep. 44
I am joined by author and theologian, Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim, to talk about her new book "When God Became White: Dismantling Whiteness For a More Just Christianity." In our conversation Dr. Kim describes the origins of her new book, briefly unpacks the roots of and the damage done by painting God as a white, and speaks to how the Church can begin to correct the narrative of Whiteness. Grace Ji-Sun Kim (PhD, University of Toronto) is professor of theology at Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, ...
Jun 04, 2024•25 min•Ep. 43
When I was four my parents took me into my first skateboard shop and bought me my first skateboard. I tell you all that not for no reason, but because that has a lot to do with how and why I started really following Jesus and then how and why I became obsessed with His Word.
May 31, 2024•8 min•Ep. 42
The church that does not know the purpose for which it exists will inevitably misplace its focus, misuse its resources, and miss out on so much of God intended for it. The church has got to know its primary purpose. Thankfully its in Ephesians 3, and it is truly a glorious purpose with mind blowing proportions.
May 28, 2024•13 min•Ep. 41
What is God like toward His children? What is the extent of His goodness? How does He give us rest? Psalm 23 has something to say on it!
May 28, 2024•21 min•Ep. 40
Before reading the genealogy in Matthew chapter 1, one might expect that it would be most boring passage in Matthew's entire book. But nothing could be further from the truth. It is simply incredible how many treasures Matthew packed into just 17 verses, and how he uses a genealogy of all things to so beautifully and poetically setup the rest of the story of Jesus.
May 27, 2024•29 min•Ep. 39
More hard words from Jesus, but there is no getting around it. Are we the overeager disciple or the undereager? What are the things that we have not fully surrendered; the costs we have not truly counted? What are the things we use to justify the putting off of following Jesus with our whole hearts?
May 21, 2024•15 min•Ep. 38
What is the Gospel? It seems like a simple question, yet how many of us struggle to put the gospel into words?
May 20, 2024•3 min•Ep. 37
In our ongoing conversation about the Church, today we were joined by a good friend and brother, Reverend Austin Spry. Austin is a Priest in the Anglican Church of Canada, and as such he brings a unique experience and much needed perspective to the conversation. Our questions for Austin covered topics like liturgy, Anglican church models, children in services, centrality of the Scripture, and more.
May 14, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 36
What is the Church? How does the Bible describe the Church, and what are the marks of its gatherings?
May 14, 2024•49 min•Ep. 35
Are lukewarm Christians saved? I don't know. At the end of the day that is God's decision. What I do know is that either way, the Bible has some difficult things to say to the lukewarm Church.
May 10, 2024•20 min•Ep. 34
