Shows
Table RadioSeason 6 - ADVENT - Isaiah 2 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Join us as we celebrate the beginning of another new year in the church with our first Advent Sunday! Andy takes a look at Isaiah 2 and what it is we're all waiting for.
2026-01-1416 minTable RadioSeason 6 - Unveiled: Jesus Among Us - Revelation 7 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Andy finishes our series with a discussion of Revelation 7. Our greatest hope comes from love that gives everything for others.
2026-01-1429 minTable RadioSeason 6 - Unveiled: Jesus Among Us - Revelation 4 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!At our Neighbourhood Table gathering Andy asks - what kind of leader is worthy of having authority and power? Chapter 4 of Revelation is a vision of the throne room of God in heaven and John describes in vivid detail all that he sees there.
2025-11-2122 minTable RadioSeason 6 - Unveiled: Jesus Among Us - Rev. 2:8-29 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Finishing off Revelation chapter 2, Andy examines the letters to the churches in Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira. What is the cost of being a faithful witness to Jesus? What are some of the fears we experience when we consider how to follow Him today? How do we live with integrity and hold fast to the faith we aspire to?
2025-10-3039 minTable RadioSeason 6 - Unveiled: Jesus Among Us - Revelation 1 Pt. 2 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Welcome back to Season 6! This week at our Downtown Neighbourhood Table, Andy teaches on the next 4 verses of Revelation chapter 1. In this section, John discusses the centrality of Jesus and his love for us. The unveiling of Jesus in Revelation shows us a greater reality than what we can immediately see.
2025-10-1024 minTable RadioSeason 6 - Unveiled: Jesus Among Us - Revelation 1 - No More Secrets - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!As we start Season 6 we also start a new series on Revelation 1 to 7 called Unveiled: Jesus Among Us! Andy begins with the very first 3 verses of the book and discusses how Jesus is still present even when we can't see evidence to support that belief.
2025-09-3032 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Summer of Acts - Acts 28 - The Beginnings of Christianity - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Andy wraps up our Acts series with a recap of the whole book and the beginnings of Christianity. What does this story reveal about what we need to believe about Jesus Christ and how do these beliefs shape our lives?
2025-09-2925 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Summer of Acts - Acts 28 - Malta and Journey's End - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Coming to the end of Acts, Andy preaches on Acts 28 and Paul's continued journey to Rome after his shipwreck and his miraculous survival of a snakebite. As his journey comes to a conclusion, we continue to see God's hand on his life as the gospel of Christ goes forward.
2025-09-2825 minTable RadioSummer of Acts - Acts 22 - Paul's Hearing Before the Sanhedrin - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Continuing in Acts, Andy preaches from chapter 22:30 to 23:11 and Paul's trial before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Where do we see ourselves in this story? Are we more like the Sanhedrin, divided and defensive? Or are we closer to Paul, anchored in hope and truth-telling?
2025-09-1933 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Luke 8 & 9 - Who Are We Following? - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Closing up our Easter series, Andy looks at Luke 9:51 to 62 and what it means for us to follow Jesus.
2025-09-1228 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Luke 8 & 9 - Who Are We Following? (NT) - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Continuing in Luke 9, Andy looks at Peter's confession and the nature of discipleship.
2025-06-3019 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Luke 8 & 9 - Who Are We Following? Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Continuing in our Easter series, Andy takes a look at Luke 9:1-17 and asks who is Jesus and how do we follow Him?
2025-06-2026 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Luke 8 & 9 - Who Are We Following? - Andy Withrow (NT)We would love to hear from you!Beginning at Luke 8:1 to 21, Andy looks at how to authentically hear Jesus and understand him so that we might follow Him.
2025-06-1918 minTable RadioSeason 5 - EASTER - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Andy examines the story of the Road to Emmaus from Luke 24:13-35 and the questions the risen Jesus asks the 2 disciples on the road. How does Jesus speak to us and how should we respond? How does grappling with his questions help us pursue resurrection life?
2025-06-1828 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Lamentations: Seeds of Hope - Ch. 3 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Continuing in our Lenten series on Lamentations, Andy explores the theme of God's compassion in chapter 3. In ancient Hebrew poetry, the climax of the story is often in the middle instead of the end, making this chapter very significant.
2025-05-2227 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Lamentations: Seeds of Hope - Chapter 1 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!For our Lenten study, we are looking at the book of Lamentations and uncovering the seeds of hope scattered there as the poet describes the emotional experience of exile. These 5 chapters are individual eulogies which serve as a funeral for a dead city (Jerusalem) and a dead nation (Israel). This week, we read about the suffering depicted in chapter 1 which was a result of Israel's habitual sin and the threads of mercy which are spread throughout the book.
2025-05-1326 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Ash Wednesday - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Come mark the beginning of Lent with us as we celebrate Ash Wednesday and contemplate our humanity and God's divinity.
2025-05-1316 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Colossians: Christ the Centre - Chapter 2 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Starting at chapter 2:6, Andy explores how different life can look for us when we place Christ at the centre. This effects all parts of our existence: our identity, our community, our job, everything. Paul tells us that with Christ we come alive in a new way. Life with Christ brings with it new freedom for us to enjoy.
2025-03-1934 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Advent 4 - Andy Withrow - Light in the Darkness: The Saviour is ComingWe would love to hear from you!Andy looks at the end of Luke chapter 1 and the interaction between Elizabeth and Mary and their prophecy regarding the coming Saviour. By reading their words, we discover that they are heroes for what it means to be the church today. In spite of their low position in society, they are at the very centre of God's activity in the world.
2025-02-0522 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Advent 1 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!We begin Advent with a looking back at our Genesis series and how those learnings apply to this season of waiting for God to come again.
2024-12-1116 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Origins: Joy and Sorrow - Genesis 6-8 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Andy looks at the events surrounding the flood and the further development of humanity and their interactions with God. Humans continue to grasp for meaning, fame, and power apart from their relationship with God, and concern for our own name becomes more important than becoming the faithful seed of God. How will God intervene and disrupt humanity's trend towards violence and sin?
2024-12-1128 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Origins: Joy and Sorrow - Genesis 3 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!This week, Andy looks into the origin of sin as portrayed in Genesis 3 and the infamous fruit-eating episode. Why would a good, loving and wise God put something so dangerous in such a prominent location and forbid us from having it?
2024-11-2731 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Origins: Joy and Sorrow - Genesis 1B - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Andy looks at the topic of work in the frame of Genesis 1. What does "to be fruitful and multiply" mean in our life today? Is this calling from God still part of our created purpose?
2024-11-0826 minTable RadioSeason 5 - Origins: Joy and Sorrow - Genesis - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!This fall we look at the first 11 chapters of Genesis and how they inform our understanding of God, ourselves, and our world. This week, Andy provides on introduction and helps us frame how to read and understand this first book of the bible and how it relates to the larger biblical story.
2024-11-0322 minTable RadioSeason 4 - Summer in Acts - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Starting off our second Summer in Acts series, Andy looks at Acts 14 and the good news of the coming kingdom of Jesus. Recognizing God and His kingdom work around us, we are invited to testify and to share in this wonderful work.
2024-07-3130 minTable RadioSeason 4 - Revealed, the Mystery of God - Andy Withrow - Part 11We would love to hear from you!As we come to the last section of the Nicene Creed, Andy discusses the nature of the Holy Spirit - The Lord, the Giver of Life. The Spirit brings freedom to our lives as we keep in step with God, trusting in His love for us.
2024-06-1537 minTable RadioSeason 4 - Jesus' Final Words - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!In our last instalment in this series in John, Andy looks at the last portion of chapter 17 and Jesus' prayer for all his disciples. In his prayer, Jesus reveals his desire that we be in good relationship with God, ourselves, each other and all of creation so that we might bring glory to God the Father.
2024-04-1334 minTable RadioSeason 4 - The Work of the Holy Spirit - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Continuing in John's gospel, Andy looks at the first half of chapter 16 and how the Holy Spirit is our continuing companion after the earthly departure of Jesus.
2024-02-2428 minTable RadioSeason 4 - Revealed, the Mystery of God - Andy Withrow - Part 9We would love to hear from you!Continuing in our exploration of the Nicene Creed, Andy discusses the statement "For us and for our salvation he came down". In coming to earth the first time, Jesus crosses the barrier between earth and heaven because of the Father's love for us.
2024-01-1731 minTable RadioSeason 4 - Revealed, the Mystery of God - Andy Withrow - Part 7We would love to hear from you!Beginning with 1 Corinthians 15:20, Andy discusses the reality of the resurrection and the events that followed. What does the resurrection mean for us and how does it impact our lives both now and in the future?
2024-01-1223 minTable RadioSeason 3 - The Earth Speaks - Water - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!This week Andy explores how water relates and reveals God.
2023-10-2725 minTable RadioSeason 3 - Ash Wednesday - Introduction to the Lord's Prayer Series - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Andy starts our Lenten series with an examination of the Lord's Prayer.
2023-10-2720 min
The Open Gate Church PodcastPeter Is Rescued!In this episode, we are joined by the Reverend Andy Withrow who illuminates Acts 12 for us and presents the challenge it makes to us as the church and as individuals for the role of fervent and earnest prayer and 4 things that happen when we pray.Connect with Us!www.opengatechurch.caFacebook: @theopengatechurchInstagram: @theopengatechurch
2023-08-2027 min
DALLAS FAMOUSEpisode 17 The Dallas Jam Band SceneThis week on the Dallas Famous podcast I’m trying something different. I recently wrote my first non-concert review article for the Dallas Observer on the state of Jam Bands in Dallas. First off I was blown away by the support over this article When I take a photo I can tell if it’s good, with my writing, not so much-so thanks for all the love! Being my first article, I got very excited and did 5 interviews. After I had them all, I realized I maybe had the content for 2 or 3 articles and had to leave most of the int...
2023-05-0851 minTable RadioSeason 3 - The Blessed Life - Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!In this next instalment on the Beatitudes, Andy looks at the promise that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be blessed. What does this mean? Why and how do we desire righteousness in such a visceral way?
2023-04-1933 min
Bear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeHow to Sabbath in 2023Vanessa & Andy welcome back Naomi Yeker (from our most downloaded episode of all time) and new guest Yvonne Mann. Naomi & Yvonne took the season of Lent to explore more deeply the concept and practice of Sabbath. They take some time to reflect on what they learned and give some helpful and insightful ideas for practicing Sabbath in 2023!Resources mentioned in the show:Walter Brueggemann - Sabbath as ResistanceMarva Dawn - Keeping the Sabbath WhollyPracticing the WayAbraham Joshua Heschel - The Sabbath
2023-04-1845 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeLent: Common AbbaThe disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and he did. The way he opens the prayer both connects us to the season of Lent and frames what prayer is and how we're to approach it. Resources mentioned on the show:Peterson, Bolz Weber, and Brueggemann paraphrases of The Lord’s Prayer - HereKnowing God/Knowing Jesus Exercise from Trevor Hudson - HereFifty-Seven Words that Changed the World by Darrell Johnson- HereThe Lord & His Prayer by N.T. Wright - Here...
2023-03-1041 minTable RadioSeason 3 - Christmas - Jesus as the Better Bridge with Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Merry Christmas! Looking at the traditional Christmas passage from Luke 2, Andy examines the familiar scene of the Incarnation and the good news announcement of the arrival of Jesus. Greater than Moses, Jesus goes between God and broken humanity to make it possible for us to be closer to God and His goodness.
2023-03-1010 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeLent - Blooming in the DesertVanessa and Andy return with Bear with Me's annual Welcome to Lent Episode.Links mentions:Get Vanessa's Lent Guide here!Vanessa's Blog on Lent - Blooming in the DesertChristine Valters Paintner’s Lent 2023 Retreat/Course"Just Lent" Devotional Recommendation by VanessaSupport the show
2023-02-2442 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeSpiritual Direction: Getting Started & What to ExpectThis is Part 2 follow up to the "Intro to Spiritual Direction" episode.Vanessa breaks down the nuts and bolts of Spiritual Direction - how to find a director and what to expect for fees, your first meeting and beyond.Finally, Vanessa shares her idea of finding God at Disney while Andy looks for God in the Desert.Links & Resources:Here's a link to MORE LINKS for finding a Spiritual DirectorSupport the show
2023-01-2631 minTable RadioSeason 3 - Live a Life of Rescue - Honour Your Parents with Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Exploring the meaning of the 5th command as laid out in Exodus 20:12, Andy addresses how to honour your parents and those close to you by giving weight to those we might be tempted to take for granted.
2022-12-2024 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeVanessa's Top 7 Advent Thoughts for 2022Vanessa picked 7 of her favourite Advent thoughts that have been percolating in her heart and mind for this season and she shares them with us.Resources:Here's a Christianity Today(!) Blog Post from Vanessa with more ideas and resourcesVanessa's Gift ideas for locals - Victoria Gift GuideHere's a link to a downloadable Advent Guide from VanessaSupport the show
2022-12-0241 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeIntro to Spiritual Direction Part 1What is Spiritual Direction?What is a Spiritual Director?What's the value? Should everyone do it?What's the difference between Spiritual Direction and Counseling?Vanessa tells all in this 1st part of a 2 part series.Support the show
2022-10-2038 minTable RadioSeason 3 - Live a Life of Rescue - No Image w Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Continuing in our series on the 10 Commandments, Andy talks about how they reveal how to live in relationship to God with responsibility. As part of this responsibility, God asks us not to make and worship images of Him. Listen to Andy's explanation as to why!
2022-10-0730 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian Life10 Instructions for the Good Life!Vanessa tells of her run ins with the Law.Andy and Vanessa discuss the ways in which God has made known deep secrets about Himself and us in the Biblical account of the "LAW" and how the true purpose of the biblical Law might surprise us.Support the show
2022-10-0641 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeVanessa's "How to FALL" GuideThe Autumnal Equinox is on 6:03pm Thursday, September 22nd. Vanessa and Andy kickoff a new "season" with another one of Vanessa's "How to" Seasonal Guides. How do we connect with the season of autumn? What does it mean? How can it give us space for discernment and to listen well to what God might be saying to us through the season?To download Vanessa's "HOW TO FALL" Guide go to www.bearwithmepdocast.comSupport the show
2022-09-2145 minTable RadioSeason 2 - EASTER - Resurrection - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Earthquakes and Angels provide some fireworks to this scene but they are not the resurrection. The resurrection itself happens off camera but the life of resurrection is available to all who would listen to the witnesses and follow after Jesus.
2022-08-1517 minTable RadioSeason 2 - LENT 4 - The Harder Road - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!The Road of Following Jesus is Harder but its Good. And the punch line is that we get the presence of Jesus when we follow it.
2022-08-1110 minTable RadioSeason 2 - LENT 3 - When to Tell Jesus What to Do - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!In this episode, a clue to understanding why the church finds it so easy to get following Jesus wrong so often.
2022-08-1120 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeWho's Qualified to Share God with Others?What is the single most important qualifier for sharing who God is with others?Andy and Vanessa wrap up the Parables Series (AND SEASON 2 of Bear w/ Me) by digging in to Jesus' requirements for being "experts" in a life lived with God.Resources:The Transforming Power of Prayer - James HoustonAwed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth - Walter BrueggemannSupport the show
2022-06-2040 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeDisciples as Privileged Insiders - Access, Ancient Wisdom, And Seeing & Hearing GodWhat are "Scribes Trained for the Kingdom"? Jesus says that those who know him and follow him are more qualified to speak on and teach about God's Kingdom than the academics and the religious elites. Resources Mentioned in this Episode:The Transforming Power of Prayer by James HoustonDomestic Monastery by Ronald RolheiserSupport the show
2022-05-1230 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeGod is Findable! Discerning God's Presence in our MidstOur last episode focused on the hiddenness of God and His Kingdom and the reasons behind that. In this episode we continue looking at the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price. How do these parables reveal how we find God and His Kingdom in our midst!Support the show
2022-05-0518 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeWhy is God Hidden from Us?Part 1 of Jesus' Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl in Matthew 13.One of the major themes of Jesus' parables is that the Kingdom of God is hidden. Why should this be the case? If God loves us why would he hide good things from us?Resources Mentioned in the Show:The Rescue - Documentary FilmSupport the show
2022-04-2828 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian Life“Knock Knock” - What is God Speaking to You in this Moment?If God is communicating all the time, how do we listen for him?Andy and Vanessa give some personal examples of what it looks like for them to pay attention to God’s presence and communication in their lives. Check out our new-ish website at www.bearwithmepodcast.comSupport the show
2022-04-2115 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeHow Will Kingdom Come? Part 2 - The SoilsWhat are the obstacles to God's Powerful Word in our lives?Why does God's Word appear to be failing in the world?What role do we play in receiving God's Powerful and Transforming Word into our lives? Vanessa and Andy took a look at these questions and seek to answer them by looking at Jesus' parable about the Sower, the Seed and the Soils.Support the show
2022-04-141h 04Table RadioAsh Wednesday - Lent 2022 - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Beginning our Lenten series on Matthew 16, Andy takes a look at verses 1 to 4 and talks about Jesus' call to suffer for our sake verses the expectations of the religious leaders of his day. What does Lent mean to us and how do we apply the practise of Lent to our lives?
2022-04-0709 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeHow Will Kingdom Come? Part 1 - The SowerAbout one third of all of Jesus’ teachings are in parable form. Parables are illustrations, stories to “throw alongside” of life to make a comparison. In Matthew 13 Jesus uses parables exclusively to show HOW God’s hope for creation will come about. And it’s not what we might expect!In this episode we look at the first and, in some ways, primary parable of the Sower. 3 Big ideas about this parable are featured:1. Why is the sower so reckless with his seed? Does it reveal a God who is eager to connect with us? Might it b...
2022-03-311h 01Table RadioSeason 2 - The Parables of Jesus - The Value of the Kingdom - Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Looking at the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price from Matthew 13: 44-46, Andy asks us to reassess what we really value and examine the treasure that is God's kingdom.
2022-03-2420 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeHow to Make Time for GodThe latest instalment in our discipleship series where we look at some discipleship texts where Jesus is teaching his disciples something specific.In Luke 6:12-16 Jesus goes to a mountain and hand picks the 12 who would be with him and get special access to the “Master” as he lives and teaches. If we’re also considered Jesus followers, what “special access” to the Master do we get and what does it look like and what can we do to take advantage of this access?Jesus give some clues for ways to be in his presen...
2022-03-1743 minTable RadioSeason 2 - Being Together Again - Instruct One Another with Andy WithrowWe would love to hear from you!Our last offering in the Being Together Again Series, Andy takes a look at Romans 15:14 to 21 and what true friendship looks and how to come alongside one another.
2022-02-0913 minBear with Me: Integrating Belief and Practice in the Christian LifeADVENT: Mary & Elizabeth**CONTENT WARNING** - This episode deals with themes of pregnancyAt the beginning of her 3rd trimester, Elizabeth is surprised by a visit from her relative Mary, perhaps traveling 100 miles on foot to stay with her. But its Elizabeth who has special insight and knowledge of particular details regarding Mary’s hidden situation. Listen in with us as we eavesdrop on a moment central to the unfolding of God’s universal plan for all of creation.Why did Mary “make haste”?How do we enter into the “Wonder” of Advent?Support the show
2021-12-2352 min