Bad Fruit Podcast

Should women serve as pastors and bishops? In this episode, Jonathan explores one of the most divisive issues in the modern church through the lens of Scripture, history, and the latest controversy in the Church of England. With Dame Sarah Mullally’s appointment as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, the question is more urgent than ever: what happens when the church replaces divine order with cultural approval?

Drawing on Scripture, Lutheran teaching, and the witness of global Anglicans in GAFCON, this Fruit Bite examines God’s design for ministry, the difference between equality and vocation, and why faithfulness to the Word of God must come before the fashions of the world.

“Faithfulness is not measured by popularity, but by obedience.”

In the 1500s, the Reformation was sweeping Europe—but in England, it began with a king who just wanted an annulment. From Henry VIII’s court to the poetry of Cranmer, from the martyrs of Oxford to the global Anglican Communion, this episode traces how the Church of England blended the theology of the Reformation with the traditions of Rome.

We’ll explore the Book of Common Prayer, the Thirty-Nine Articles, the rise of Methodism, the Oxford Movement, and the worldwide family of Anglicans today, now facing new questions with the historic appointment of Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.

A story of politics, piety, and prayer: this is Anglicanism.

Did you choose to press play, or was it predestined? Either way, you are here. In this episode we trace the Swiss, French, and Scottish roots of the Reformed family and unpack what “Reformed,” “Calvinist,” and “Presbyterian” actually mean.

At the Synod of Dort the 5 points of Calvinism, known as TULIP were introduced. As well as the 5 points of Arminianism, known as DAISY. But which flower belongs in the church garden? Or do we need GRACE?

What are the three uses of the law? And why is it important to distinguish between the law and the gospel?

In today's Fruit Bite episode we look at the Marburg Colloquy and ask the question; does IS mean IS?

A hammer strike in Wittenberg echoed all the way to America. In this episode, we trace the story of Lutheranism: from Martin Luther’s thunderstorm vow and “Here I stand,” through Melanchthon’s Augsburg Confession and Chemnitz’s defense against the Council of Trent, to Pietism and Rationalism, immigrant synods, the Seminex walkout, and the alphabet soup of American Lutherans today: ELCA, LCMS, WELS, AALC, and more.

We’ll explore what unites them (Confessions, Creeds, Sacraments, hymns) and what divides them (Scripture, culture, fellowship). From Ethiopia to Minnesota, from Augsburg to St. Louis, discover how Lutherans have struggled, split, and yet held fast to the same confession: salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

This short Fruit Bite episode looks at these five phrases known as the five solas and what they mean for us as Christians.

Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)

Sola Fide (faith alone)

Sola Gratia (grace alone)

Solus Christus (Christ alone)

Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God alone). 

In this week's episode of the denomination series we look at Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe and Jan Hus. Waldo inspired the Waldensians and Hus the Moravians and Wycliffe's influence continues with various Bible translators. These Pre-Reformation Reformers inspired Luther, Calvin and later the Methodists and Baptists.

Who do you say Jesus is? That question is the dividing line between truth and heresy, between life and death.

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