Shows
GET UP & GO BREAKFAST - PROF DION FORSTERPROF DION FORSTER - Unity Over Doctrine: A Lesson from the 1925 Stockholm Ecumenical ConferenceIn this podcast segment, Dion Forster reports from Stockholm, where he attended the centenary conference of the landmark 1925 ecumenical meeting. The core of the discussion focuses on the urgent need for Christian unity in a fractured world. He explains the original conference's motto, "doctrine divides, but service unites," arguing that prioritizing shared service and love over doctrinal debates is key to fulfilling Jesus's prayer for unity in John 17:21. Forster challenges listeners to move from a head-based faith focused on being "right" to a heart-and-arms faith that actively builds bridges in their local communities to demonstrate Christ's love to the world.
2025-08-2108 minGET UP & GO BREAKFAST - PROF DION FORSTERPROF DION FORSTER - Embracing the New Year: God's Promise of NewnessAs we begin a new year, Prof. Dion Forster offers a reflective message from Revelation 21, reminding us of God's promise to make everything new. In this episode, Dion reflects on the importance of aligning our lives with God's work, trusting in His timing, and participating in His redemptive plan. He emphasizes the importance of discernment and faith as we await the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives and the world. With blessings for the year ahead, Prof. Dion encourages us to work alongside God, sharing His love, peace, and truth with those around us.
2025-01-0206 minGET UP & GO BREAKFAST - PROF DION FORSTERPROF DION FORSTER - The Promise of the Prince of Peace: Christmas ReflectionsProf. Dion Forster reflects on the profound prophecy from Isaiah 9:6 as we approach Christmas. He delves into the significance of the child born to us, Jesus, who is promised to bear authority with wisdom, love, and peace. Prof. Dion emphasizes that Christmas is not only a time for receiving the good news of Christ's birth but also a time for giving, for embodying the qualities of the Prince of Peace in our own lives and communities. As he shares blessings from his family, Dion encourages us to reflect on how we can become more like Christ, offering counsel, peace, and...
2024-12-2605 minGET UP & GO BREAKFAST - PROF DION FORSTERPROF DION FORSTER - The Gift of Attention This ChristmasIn this heartfelt episode, Prof. Dion Forster reflects on the true gift of attention, inspired by a visit to his Turkish barber. He highlights the importance of being fully present with loved ones during the holiday season, setting aside distractions like phones to connect meaningfully with those around us. Prof. Forster also shares a poignant reminder that God is always attentive to us, and we are invited to embody that same attentiveness in our relationships.
2024-12-1209 min
The God Cast - Religion - Football - Comedy - Music - Politics - Celebrities with Fr Alex FrostDion Forster Professor of Public Theology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - The God Cast Interview.
Dion A. Forster serves as Professor of Public Theology in the Faculty of Religion and Theology at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.
He is an Extraordinary Full Professor in the Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology at Stellenbosch University.
Dion holds two doctoral degrees. A PhD in Systematic Theology (D.Th, SA, 2006) and a second PhD in New Testament studies and Empirical Theology (Ph.D, Radboud University, Holland, 2017).
Dion is a Rated researcher with the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. He is a Research Fellow at Wesley House, University of Cambridge, and at the Allan Gray Centre for...
2024-12-0537 minGET UP & GO BREAKFAST - PROF DION FORSTERPROF DION FORSTER - Calm in the Chaos: A ConversationBrad is joined by Professor Dion Forster from Frey University in Amsterdam, who is currently in South Africa. They delve into the story of Jesus calming the storm from Mark 4:35-38, exploring the deeper meanings behind the passage and the image of Jesus sleeping calmly in the midst of chaos. Prof. Forster reflects on how we can learn to seek Christ during life’s storms, drawing closer to Him in times of trouble. The conversation also touches on a recent conference on global poverty, the significance of the 16 Days of Activism against the abuse of women and girls, and a pe...
2024-11-2810 min
It’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 93: What the Shepherds can teach us about ChristmasWell, we haven’t posted for a while since finishing our series of reading through the Bible from the perspectives of justice and peace. But, I wanted to share a short message at Christmas. Today we look at one of the more revolutionary advent passages Luke 2:8-20. We see what we can learn about Christmas from the Shepherds. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it...
2021-12-1925 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 92: In the end evil destroys itself and the Lamb wins! Is there any greater hope?All that I will say is ‘The Lamb Wins!’ Thanks for journeying with us through this series! Please listen to the end, we have a favor to ask of you - please drop me a line with some feedback, a testimony, or just to say ‘hi’. You can do so via my website http://www.dionforster.com or http://www.twitter.com/digitaldion We are so grateful to have shared this journey with you! Please share the podcast with others, and please subscribe, so that when new episodes are released you will get a notification! Thanks so much. Have you got any...
2021-04-2315 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 91: What does it mean to move from the Lion to the Lamb?In today’s episode we move on to a discussion of Revelation 5 in which there is a fascinating shift from the rule of the Lion to the rule of the Lamb! What does this mean for our lives in terms of Jesus’ commitments to justice and peace? Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support proj...
2021-04-2008 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 90: Where is your focus? Continuing our discussion on Revelation 4Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - please do check back with us each week.You are welcome to be in contact with either Dion Forster (@digitaldion on twitter or via his website www.dionforster...
2021-04-1608 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 89: What is your worldview? Making sense of the world with John and Revelation chapter 4Each of us looks at the world, and we make sense of it, through our own ‘eyes’. This is known as a worldview. John and his intended readers had worldviews that differed from ours. We too have differing worldviews. Today we delve into Revelation chapter 4 as we consider various worldviews. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us t...
2021-04-1309 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 88: Revelation - How Jesus comes to us, some important symbolism in this bookToday we look at an aspect of the symbolism in the book of Revelation - Jesus’ peaceful word coming to us. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - please do check back with us each we...
2021-04-0909 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 87: Learning by listening in on a wise conversation, Revelation and the 7 ChurchesToday we continue our journey into the book of the Revelation to John for the Seven Churches. It is important that we always keep in mind that the authors of books of the Bible (which were letters, or histories, or poetry etc.) had a particular audience, set or concerns and objectives in mind. We are not the primary audience. This does not mean that there is no value for us - quite the opposite! It is like listening to a wise person offering sage advice to someone else. We can learn so much my carefully listening in! Have you got...
2021-04-0608 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 86: Revelation and references to the Old Testament - ‘keeping it together’Any careful reader of New Testament texts will quickly notice how important the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) are in the New Testament. They form the backdrop of many of the ideas, moral commitments, religious beliefs, and at times doctrinal convictions that are expressed by authors of New Testament texts. This is not surprising since it was the Bible that they used (as members of the Hebrew and early Messianic faith). Today we look at references to the Old Testament in Revelation. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are...
2021-04-0210 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 85: Revelation - understanding some important contextSo, the next 8 episodes form an engagement with the book of Revelation. Today we are starting with a discussion on some important aspects of the context of this much misunderstood, and often misused book in the Bible. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we...
2021-03-3010 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 84: The Armor of God, and violence and Jesus? A peaceable invitationThe Bible contains a lot of violent imagery. How do we deal with that as persons who are called to become peaceable, like Jesus the Prince of Peace? Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes...
2021-03-2609 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 83: Dying like Christ? Everyone is loved by JesusToday we continue in a journey through the New Testament as we focus on Paul’s notion of ‘dying like Christ’ - what exactly does that mean? Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - please do che...
2021-03-2309 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 82: An introduction to Paul and early ChristianityIt is important that we understand our Christian history and identity - it is important so that we know what has happened before, but also so that we don’t make the mistake of thinking that everything has remained the same. Your context, your time and place in history, are different from those of Paul and the early Christians. But, they remain connected in Christ. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also in...
2021-03-1909 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 81: Saul to Paul into Christian historyThe apostle Paul is one of the more important figures in Christian history. Not only is he recognized as one of the primary authors of New Testament texts, his ideas have played a very significant role in the shaping and some wood claim even miss-shaping of Christian identity and belief. Today we behind a 4 episode focus on Paul. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope...
2021-03-1609 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 80: Spirit of Love, apartheid and prejudiceI am reminded from time to time how important it is to have a lived Spirituality - to live my life in the Spirit! Today’s episode discusses the importance of living in relationship with the Spirit of Love. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace th...
2021-03-1209 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 79: The Spirit changes how we live with others - Pentecostal communityLiving in the Spirit changes how we live - not only our person lives, but also our communities and social lives. Today we discuss Pentecostal community. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - please do...
2021-03-0909 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 78: Speaking and hearing - continuing the Pentecost journeyOne of the more contentious issues in contemporary Christianities relates to the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit. What might it mean to speak in a new tongue? Or listen with heavenly ears to a new and transforming language? We touch on these topics in today’s episode. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to su...
2021-03-0509 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 77: Washed in God’s love! The Holy SpiritI start this episode with the words ‘Welcome Pentecostals!’ That May sound strange if you are Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic or from another faith tradition. But, of course, all Christians are Pentecostals since we live on ‘this side’ of Pentecost. Today we begin a 4 episode focus on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any inco...
2021-03-0309 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 76: Do you (honestly) believe in the resurrection?Do you believe in the resurrection? What difference should such belief habe for Christians? How should it change the ways in which we live? Join us for a discussion around belief in the resurrection today. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved...
2021-02-2609 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 75: Inspired to live with courage! The tension between idealism and realismThis is our 3rd episode in the 4 part mini-series on the resurrection. Today we consider what serves as inspiration for a life lived with courage, and how we manage the tension between realism and idealism as Christians. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we...
2021-02-2309 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 74: Resurrection: Love breaks open, it doesn’t break down.The resurrection of Jesus is a model for what God does in our lives. Loving raising us up through death and pain to newness of life. Today we consider some aspects of God’s redeeming and resurrecting love. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we...
2021-02-1908 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 73: The greatest day in life! When our sin is forgiven.What is the greatest day in your life? Today we talk about the day on which our sins were forgiven - a day of grace, healing and liberation. It sets us free to flourish, and live for the blessing and flourishing of other persons and all of creation. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to...
2021-02-1609 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 72: Less about dying, more about love: Theories of the atonementIn this final episode of the 4 part mini-discussion on the death of Jesus we focus on theories of the atonement and where we might place our emphasis in becoming ‘at one’ with God, others, creation and ourselves. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are...
2021-02-1209 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 71: ‘If you live for truth, you need to look good on wood’ - Costly discipleship!Al has a very provocative way of speaking. He once said to a group of us, ‘If you are going to live for the truth, you had better look good on wood. Because at some point you may be crucified.’ Very challenging indeed! We discuss the notion of costly discipleship in the ‘way’ of following Jesus today. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not o...
2021-02-0908 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 70: God sent Jesus to die?This is one of the great mysteries of our faith - that a loving parent would send God’s Son to die. How are we to understand that? Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - pl...
2021-02-0509 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 69: The vineyard parable, and the Christ’s loveToday we being another 4 part series, kicking off with a discussion of the Vineyard parable. In particular we consider notions of Christ’s love as central to how we shape our beliefs and values. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. Th...
2021-02-0209 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 68: God the economist? The values of God’s economyHow might God redesign the economic systems of our homes, our communities, our countries, indeed the world? Today we discuss the values of God’s economy and invite some reflection on our economic and social choices. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are in...
2021-01-2910 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 67: The Economics Systems of the Bible and the WorldI am constantly amazed that so many Christians accept the dominant economic systems of the world uncritically. It is almost as if we have lost our theological imagination for a world that could be so different! In today’s episode Alan and I discuss the economic systems of parts of the Bible in relation to the systems of the world. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I...
2021-01-2609 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 66: Holy CommunionWe continue our focus on food, feeding and Kingdom economics today. We will spend some time discussing the implications of Holy Communion in the broader perspectives of the Bible, justice and peace. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series...
2021-01-2209 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 65: How many people have you fed?Today’s episode begins another 4 part focus on a theme - we pick up from the last episode (the feeding of the 5000) and move into a series that reflects on food, feeding and Kingdom economics. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in...
2021-01-1909 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 64: Unlikely sources of blessing - feeding the 5000A constant theme in this journey though the Bible is how God uses unlikely persons, and simple faith, to bring justice, wholeness and peace. Today we reflect on another such story - the feeding of the 5000. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are...
2021-01-1509 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 63: Money, money, money... AND justice!Today we will discuss one of the most difficult, and contentious, issues in our lives - the relationship between money and justice! Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - please do check back with us...
2021-01-1209 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 62: Justice is love distributedWhat is justice? Today we consider an aspect of the notion of justice. We do so by focusing on justice as love distributed. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - please do check back with...
2021-01-0809 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 61: Manna for all! Every person is importantI frequently loose perspective. It is a challenge to keep my eyes fixed on Christ and my actions directed towards others. Thankfully, God is gracious and forgiving. And, thankfully, God allows us to partner in the work of salvation. Today we discuss the notion of manny for all and consider how and why every person - even the most undesirable or unlikeable person - matters. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also...
2021-01-0510 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 60: Followers of Christ, not just admirersToday’s episode was released on 1 January 2021. I was once again reminded of the great importance of living lives with the fruit of love, and the virtues of courage and consistency in order to see God’s peace and justice realized in the coming year. 2020 was not an easy year - may 2021 be better, and May you be used by God, empowered by the Spirit and transformed by Christ’s love, to experience goodness and make it a reality for all of creation. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are re...
2021-01-0110 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 59: Grace and MercyWe are to be like the God whom we love, and who loves us. Grace and mercy are surely characteristics of God’s nature and character in dealing with all of creation, indeed all of history, in love. Perhaps you may find some encouragement in your life, work, and witness from today’s episode? Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any...
2020-12-2909 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 58: The life that Christ brings!This episode is being released on Christmas Day 2020. Alan and I want to wish all of our listeners a blessed Christmas. It is very apt that we focus on the theme ‘The life that Christ brings’ today. I was inspired by this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. “When God chooses Mary as the means when God himself wants to come into the world in the manger of Bethlehem, this is not an idyllic family affair. It is instead the beginning of a complete reversal, a new ordering of all things on this earth. If we want to participate in this Advent and Ch...
2020-12-2510 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 57: Why do you follow Jesus?So, why do you follow Jesus? This is a very important question to answer. We will consider some aspects of this important question in today’s episode. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - please do...
2020-12-2209 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 56: God loves everyone! Stretching the congregationIn today’s episode we hear that we’ll know message of God’s love - but we hope that you heart it with ‘new ears’ and a ‘new heart’! Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - ple...
2020-12-1809 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 55: Jesus’ first sermonIn today’s episode we consider Jesus’ first sermon! This is an episode that is not to be missed - in it we see how Jesus’ own life and ministry sets the tone for our lives and witness. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are...
2020-12-1508 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 54: Even Jesus wrestled with temptationIn today’s episode we focus on Jesus’ wrestling with temptation. It is a comfort to know that Christ also faced temptation, as we do. It is also a great source of hope to know that he overcame it through faith, courage, and love. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives rela...
2020-12-1109 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 53: Jesus and the tempter, wrestling with GodToday we turn to the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. There is a great deal that we can learn about life, love, fullness, and grace from this narrative. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes...
2020-12-0809 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 52: Ah, that’s my child! The baptism of JesusToday we turn to Jesus! We focus on that wonderful narrative of Jesus’ baptism, and some of the sights, sounds, people, and events that surround it. There is a wonderful inspiration in today’s message! You are invited to be with those whom God loves (of course in safe ways during the Coronavirus pandemic!) Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any...
2020-12-0409 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 51: Salvation, not safety - John continuedThanks for listening to today’s podcast - we continue to focus on New Testament narratives today as we consider what we can learn from the life and witness of John the Baptizer. There may be a tiny bit of background noise in the intro and conclusion - apologies for that! I had to record them in a public space because of time. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a sh...
2020-12-0108 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 50: The cost of discipleship!Today we continue to discuss the life and witness of John the Baptizer. He paid a high price for the sake of truth and justice. It is important that we don’t gloss over that. I hope that you will find some encouragement and insight that can guide you to living faithfully, no matter the cost, for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom and God’s justice and love in the world. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please...
2020-11-2709 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 49: John the Baptizer and the courage to live foe truth!For the next 4 weeks we will be focusing on the witness we find in the life of John the Baptizer. Today we reflect on how he lived with integrity, courage, and truth. This is an invitation to all of us to do the same. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives...
2020-11-2409 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 48: The Song of Mary - it has already been achieved for youWhere do you find God? Today we look at the Song of Mary - it is a wonderfully instructive text in the New Testament that shows us where and how God is busy working for good! It also invites us to join God there and find life! Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support...
2020-11-2009 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 47: Not power, wealth or position - obedience and love! The example of MaryIn today’s episode we continue to focus on the ways in which God achieves God’s will for love, life, and blessing for all of creation and humanity. We do so by focusing on Mary. God chooses a young, poor, unwed woman - the lowest and least powerful of her time - to bring Jesus into the world. God can use any of us, just where we are! Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back...
2020-11-1708 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 46: Reading the New Testament in a ‘Jesus context’Isn’t it remarkable how easily we forget that Jesus is the lens through which we should read the texts of the New Testament? Today we set the scene for such a reading of the various books of the New Testament. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice an...
2020-11-1309 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 45: Turning to the New Testament: Manna and Mercy and some contextRegular listeners may have noticed that this episode is a day or two late! My apologies for that! It is Masters and Doctoral submission ‘season’ and I have a number of students completing and submitting their research! So things have been a little hectic! Well, back to today! In this episode we turn from the Old Testament to begin our journey into the books of the New Testament! We are about half way through the entire series, and today we touch base with our framing hermeneutic lens (the way in which we are reading the texts), and focus on the noti...
2020-11-1009 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 44: Finding yourself by going to your Nineveh - Jonah part 3In today’s final episode on Jonah, we talk about how often people need to return to their ‘Nineveh’ to find themselves. If you haven’t listened to the first 2 episodes in this 3 part series, please listen to episodes 42 and 43. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace th...
2020-11-0310 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 43: A reluctant missionary and the worst sermon in history (perhaps?) Jonah part 3In this episode we once again focus on Jonah, a reluctant missionary, who preaches a terrible sermon! And guess what? God still works through him - perhaps in spite of him? Today we learn how God can work for good, even when we are not at our best! Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to...
2020-10-3009 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 42: On calling, disobedience and fullness of life - Jonah part 1In this episode we start a 3 part series on Jonah. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes struggle to respond obediently, and fully, to God’s call and invitation. Today we look at Jonah and his response to God’s invitation to partnering foe a full life. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to sup...
2020-10-2709 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 41: When the oppressed become oppressors - lessons from the book of RuthHistory records many instances in which oppressed persons have turned into oppressors. Sadly, injustice is a part of the struggle of humanity. It is common to us all, none of us is exempt from that possibility. Today we discuss some lessons from the book of Ruth for the Hebrew people, and of course for ourselves, in relation to responsibility, power and justice.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today...
2020-10-2309 min
Urban MysticDeconstructing with Dion Forster - Part 2Our guest for two episodes is an academic for the church active engaging church, state, economic, and race relations. Join us as we get to know Dion Forster. This is Part 2 of our conversation with Dion Forster. Here both Tim and Dion push back at each other over the institution of the church and whether it is necessary or relevant. It is an example of the points of agreement and difference between around the necessity of the institution of the church and why many really understand it to be essential.
(My apologies as the sound is a...
2020-10-221h 08It’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 40: ‘Getting exclusive’ - looking at exclusivity and faithfulness in the post-exilic periodAfter the period of the exile, the Hebrew people began to loose touch with their truest identity. We still struggle with that problem today! Somehow we think that national identities, ethnic identities, political or social identities, are our primary identities. In today's episode we discuss the need for the Hebrew people to re-learn who they are in the midst of different circumstances and realities.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check...
2020-10-2008 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 39: When the law needs to change - post-exile lawsBecause God is so deeply relational, God is always present in our current lives. Of course God is a God of history - so there is a continuity between the past, the present and the future. But, the values of God's nature (love, compassion, justice, inclusion) shape how laws and principles need to change in the present to match what we face at this time in our lives and history. Today we talk about the need for some post-exilic laws.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this...
2020-10-1609 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 38: Relationships are key! True, authentic, life giving, relationships.Today we continue our discussion of the formation of the Hebrew religion, and how important it is for us (as it was for them) to remember that a relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation is a key element of life-giving faith! Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects...
2020-10-1308 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 37: God doesn’t want our religion - God longs for something more life-giving!Did God ever want the Hebrew people (or indeed the early Christians) to start a religion? Today we talk about this notion as we move towards Ruth and Jonah. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes...
2020-10-0909 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 36: It is not always the ‘powerful’ who have real power! Kings and ProphetsIn the economy of God’s kingdom we soon come to realize that it is not those who hold supposed power who are truly powerful! In the Kingdom of God is the weak, the caring, the loving, the obedient, who have true and lasting authority - since it comes from God. Today we learn a few things that we could apply to our understanding of some contemporary leaders who exercise unjust power. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so pl...
2020-10-0609 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 35: False prophets (and there are many!)Today we revisit the prophetic tradition in relation to the scriptures. There are many contemporary prophets who give ‘prophetic’ words that bear almost no resemblance to what we read about prophets in the Hebrew Bible. We consider some aspects of false and true prophets in today’s episode. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to suppor...
2020-10-0209 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 34: Prophets, the prophetic and religious leaders - what does God require from them and you?Last week we began our conversation around kings and leaders, this week we move on to discussing religious leaders and prophets. What should the nature of a religious leader be? How should we hold those persons to account? And in what ways do they represent God‘s loving authority and God‘s desire in the world? Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not...
2020-09-2909 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 33: On Kings and Rulers - what is a just and righteous leader?The Israelites asked God to give them a King! They didn’t get quite what they bargained for - Kings and leaders are to be held to high standards, but so are the people who elect, appoint and support them! Today we reflect on what we can learn about our societies today in relation to the Israelites wanting a King. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I...
2020-09-2509 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 32: Christians and the 10 Commandments - a liberating journeySo today we conclude our discussion of the Commandments as life-giving, life-intending laws for living in greater freedom, justice and love. Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - please do check back with us each...
2020-09-2209 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 31: Fairness for me? But what about others?I don’t know about you, but I often find it far easier to advocate for my ‘rights’, to seek to be treated fairly by others. It is far more difficult for me to live with a view towards fairness for others - particularly when it doesn’t directly relate to me, or may even cost me something! Today we consider the principle of fairness in this portion of the Bible.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday m...
2020-09-1810 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 30: Justice, Joy and Jubilee!God is glad, and we can find gladness, when justice is served. We encounter the notions of justice and joy in the way in which the principle of jubilee is presented in the Hebrew Scriptures. Today we will reflect on how we can bring justice, joy and jubilee into our lives.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is...
2020-09-1510 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 29: Keeping some things holy - reflecting on sabbatical living.What does it mean to keep some things, some people, some times, some places, as holy? Sabbath and sabbatical living are so important to a full and fulfilled life. God intends for us to flourish. Sabbatical living may be one key in that process.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us...
2020-09-1109 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 28: Adultery - how are we to love?Have you ever wondered how the 10 commandments made the 'top 10 list' of the law? How did adultery get in there? Well, today we are going to reflect on the virtue of love - and in particular a kind of love that is lasting, sacrificial, and life giving.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income...
2020-09-0808 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 27: Do you really have to obey the 10 Commandments?Do you really have to 'obey' the 10 commandments? Today we take a bit of time to consider the ways in which God’s grace ‘runs through’ the law - particularly the 10 Commandments. We learn how we might live to honor God, honor one another, and value our own lives for God’s sake.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is no...
2020-09-0409 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 26: Moses writes a new bill of rights as God establishes a new constitution - but the Hebrew people have lost the plot!Constitutions and Laws are important! They give us some idea of how we should live our lives to care for one another, and live for what is good. Today we read about Moses ‘carving’ a bill of rights (and responsibilities) in the 10 Commandments, as God establishes a life-giving constitution for fullness of life.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it i...
2020-09-0109 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 25: Don’t rush through your wilderness! From oppression to promiseToday we pause with the Israelites in their journey through the wilderness. Sometimes the wilderness can teach us, prepare us, and deepen our faith and trust.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains...
2020-08-2809 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 24: If you hoard it, it starts to rot and stink! Daily bread, MannaIf you hoard it, it starts to rot and stink! Our consumer culture tends to place higher value on things than on the wellbeing of persons and the planet. We value our own comfort and security more than the wellbeing of other persons and the rest of God's good creation! Today we will see what lessons we can learn from God's faithful and abundant provision for the Israelites in the wilderness.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and...
2020-08-2509 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 23: Learning to flourish in the wildernessI have certainly been in the wilderness at times in my life! How about you? These times are not wasted in God's economy. Today we will learn how Israel was prepared and shaped by God during their wandering in the wilderness towards the land of promise.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received...
2020-08-2109 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 22: Fact, fiction or promise? The crossing of the Red seaWas the crossing of the Red Sea fact or fiction? If that is the only question we ask about this narrative, we may be missing the point! We can learn some things about God, ourselves, others and all of creation if we just reconsider this narrative from a slightly different vantage point.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it...
2020-08-1809 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 21: From bondage and slavery towards liberation - Pharaoh and ExodusToday we focus on the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and their release into the 'wilderness' school to prepare them for living in the promised land. It is a familiar narrative - most of us probably heard it in Sunday school! Let's reconsider it in light of our current lives and ask what we can learn about God, ourselves, and all of creation?Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please...
2020-08-1409 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 20: Moses and the Exodus - a well known narrative with a beautiful twist!Isn’t it wonderful to read such familiar narratives and to hear them cost in a new light? Many of us have probably heard the stories of Moses and the exodus from our childhood. The hope is, that today you gained a new perspective on a very important and familiar story.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received he...
2020-08-1109 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 19: Leaving behind the lesser for the greater! Abraham’s partnership with GodToday we discuss Abraham’s partnership with God. Abraham ‘left his father’s house’ to follow God’s call. It is seldom easy to follow God! But, our faith is always rewarded by God’s faith in us! Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are invol...
2020-08-0709 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 18: In partnership with God - a life giving relationship Genesis 11'Without God, we can not... Without us, God will not' - this is one of the beautiful ideas that Alan and I discuss this week as we moved from Genesis 11 and beyond. Our lives are intended to be lived in partnership with God who is working in love, by love and for the greater love of all of creation.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a...
2020-08-0408 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 17: Is God truly loving? Noah’s ark and Genesis 6 to 9The narrative of Noah's ark and 'The Flood' are wonderful opportunities for us to reflect on God's nature. The ways in which we interpret, and retell, narratives in the Bible are important. Not only do they express our values (since we are the readers and interpreters of the text), they also shape the values of others (communities, families, Churches). It is important that we consider how we engage what are sometimes called 'texts of terror' (floods, destruction etc.)Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we...
2020-07-3108 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 16: I don’t know if it happened, but I do know that it is true'Truth' is a tricky thing! There are different ways of thinking about what is true and why it is true - I happen to think my wife is the most wonderful partner in the world. Of course this is true for me, but in what ways is it true? And how do we deal with competing claims to truth? This episode should help to open our eyes to understanding and engaging some of these complexities for the sake of life and love!Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!...
2020-07-2808 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 15: Made in love, by love and for loveAlan and I have known each other for decades. His ministry over the years has been a source of great healing, wholeness, and the ushering in of justice and peace for many individuals and communities. One of the values that underlies his ministry, and that of the communities in which he serves, is the understanding that every person is born 'in love, by love and for love.' This offers such life giving depth and direction to our living! I hope you find this episode meaningful and inviting.Have you got any questions or feedback for us...
2020-07-2409 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 14: Which creation story do you believe?Last week we discovered some of the 'pre-history' and wider cultural history that predates the Genesis creation narratives. Today we consider what we actually believe! Would Jesus say 'amen' to our views of all of creation (including human and non-human creation, and how we relate to all of God's creative work?)Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is...
2020-07-2108 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 13: The Babylonian creation story - guts and gore!Many of the narratives in the Christian scriptures have a wider history. Today we discuss the background to the Creation narratives and ask some questions about what we believe (and live) as a result.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace...
2020-07-1709 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 12: What about the fall? Genesis 3So, what do we do about passages that talk about sin, the fall, and the brokenness of humanity? Today, Alan and I discuss Genesis 3.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes...
2020-07-1410 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 11: Into creation! Reading Genesis 1Today we begin our engagement with various chapters, narratives, authors and perspectives of Biblical texts, and we do so by reading and discussing Genesis 1.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes...
2020-07-1009 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 10: Context matters part 2So, today is the last of the introductory discussions on the context, history and background hermeneutics to reading the Bible. From next week we start reading Genesis 1.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series...
2020-07-0709 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 9: Context matters part 1This is the second last episode that deals with issues of context, hermeneutics, and how we (as readers of texts in the Bible) can approach the Bible with a commitment to justice and peace.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace...
2020-07-0309 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 8: God’s face cloth'God's face cloth?' Does the title of today's episode sounds intriguing? Well, I think you are in for a treat. Join us as we begin our journey into the books of Bible from today onwards.Have you got any questions or feedback for us? Please do make contact!At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice...
2020-06-3009 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 7: A lens to see more clearly - zooming in and having a wide angle on the BibleIn today's episode we talk about two ways of viewing the text - zooming in to the small, particular, contextual aspects, and zooming out, to consider the larger, more thematic, overarching themes.At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that we are involved in. The series contains almost 100 episodes - please do check back with us...
2020-06-2609 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 6: Four questions to ask when reading the BibleHave you ever had to preach a sermon, but Saturday evening rolls around and you have no idea what you should say on Sunday morning? Well, today Alan and I discuss four important questions that can shape how we approach texts in the Bible from the perspectives of justice and peace.We are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and initiatives related to justice and peace that...
2020-06-2308 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 5: Tips for reading the Bible responsiblyIn today's episode we discuss some 'tips for reading the Bible responsibly'. The podcast should be available on more and more platforms - so please continue to check where you most often download your podcasts - it is on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Apple Podcast and a host of other apps and platforms already. At this stage we are releasing 2 episodes a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - so please do check back! Today we also included a short sponsorship - I hope it is not obtrusive. Any income received helps us to support projects and in...
2020-06-1910 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 4: Jesus is the lens through which we read the scripturesToday Rev Alan Storey and Prof Dion Forster discuss the 'lens' that Christians should use in order to read the Bible for justice, peace, and indeed fullness of life! This episode helps us to consider that anyone can read the texts of the Bible - but if we want it to be a Christian reading of the text, it should be read through the lens of the person, witness, and values of Jesus. The podcast should be available on more and more platforms - so please continue to check where you most often download your podcasts - it is...
2020-06-1610 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 3: Study the Bible and follow JesusIn todays’s episode of ‘It’s not a lecture... just a thought...’ Rev Alan Storey and Prof Dion Forster discuss the relationship between our faith and the texts of the Bible. What comes first, the Bible, or following Jesus? Getting the order wrong often leads to abuses of the Biblical text, and a misrepresentation of Jesus and the values of our Christian faith. We are still ironing out a few details in the technical and scheduling aspects of the podcast. It should soon be available on many more podcast platforms and we intend to release 2 episodes a week - so ple...
2020-06-1209 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 2: Christ-like, not ‘Bible-like’In todays’s episode of ‘It’s not a lecture... just a thought...’ Rev Alan Storey and Prof Dion Forster introduce a discussion on how Christians can approach the Bible in a responsible manner that honours the person, values and message of Jesus. We are still ironing out a few details in the technical and scheduling aspects of the podcast. It should soon be available on many more podcast platforms and we intend to Delaware 2 episodes a week - so please do check back! There is a one or two second drop off in the audio of this show at aroun...
2020-06-0809 minIt’s not a lecture... just a thoughtEpisode 1: The Bible as a site of struggleIn this episode of ‘It’s not a lecture... just a thought...’ Rev Alan Storey and Prof Dion Forster introduce a discussion on how Christians use and abuse the Bible. This is particularly topical at the moment - this week saw Donald Trump, the President of the United States, holding up a Bible in front of St John’s Parish in Washington DC during the peaceful protests against the killing of George Floyd. Many found this symbolic use of the Bible to be problematic. Of course this is just one example of how persons, including Christians, have used the Bible for ideo...
2020-06-0508 min