Parable titles sometimes take us in the wrong direction, and so it seems for Jesus' parable of the labourers in Matthew 20. What can we learn about the Kingdom of God from the reckless business actions of the vineyard owner? Why did he pay his one-hour-a-day workers the same as the whole-day ones? We echo the grumbling and the cries of unfairness from those who worked longer. What is this strange and subversive generosity pointing to about God's Kingdom?

In this talk James kicks off our new series 'why am I still a Christian?'. In this talk James vulnerably shares his own journey with faith and sexuality and how this journey has led him deeper in his belief of how the church can be a place of welcome, inclusion and celebration.

Welcome to this final episode in our journey through Deconstruction as Discipleship by Michael Houston. Chapter 6, titled Towards a Flourishing Community of Re-forming Disciples, brings us to a hopeful vision of what lies beyond disorientation. Mike explores how faith communities can become safe landing spaces—places of grace and graft—for those navigating doubt and reconstruction. He challenges us to expand our spiritual worldview, decolonise privilege, and embrace the liminal spaces of faith with humility and courage. This chapter is a powerful call to nurture kindness, friendship, and candour in our churches—to create brave spaces where lament and doubt are welcomed as sacred acts. Houston invites us into a vision of the church not as a place of rigid conformity, but as a Christoform community—ever ancient, ever new—where reformation is ongoing and grace is abundant. Join us as we explore what it means to be a people always re-forming in the way of Jesus.

Welcome to this episode, where we explore Chapter 5 of Michael Houston’s Deconstruction as Discipleship, titled Surgery on a Malformed Faith. In this powerful chapter, Mike likens deconstruction to a necessary and often painful surgery—one that confronts harmful spiritual narratives and opens the way for healing. He identifies two core distortions in contemporary Christianity: the idolisation of certainty and the demand for conformity. These constructs, he argues, can damage authentic faith, stifle curiosity, and enforce exclusion. Drawing on stories, Scripture, cultural critique, and personal experience, Mike calls for a faith that embraces mystery, doubt, and diversity. This chapter is both prophetic and pastoral, challenging the church to move from rigid scaffolding to a flourishing garden of faith—where roots grow deep and wings are given to fly. Join us as we unpack what it means to let go of brittle belief systems and rediscover a Christ-shaped, open-handed way of following Jesus.

Welcome to this episode of our series on Deconstruction as Discipleship, where we engage with Chapter 4: Dismantling Two Faith Constructs. In this chapter, Mike explores two deeply ingrained yet often damaging theological frameworks: our inherited view of the Bible and our portrait of God.
Using the metaphor of cathedral scaffolding, Mike argues that many of us have unknowingly inherited distorted faith structures—false facades built around sacred truths. He critiques biblicism, the idolisation of the Bible, and unpacks how rigid doctrines and punitive images of God have shaped anxious, guilt-ridden spiritualities. Yet, this dismantling is not destruction; it’s an invitation to rediscover Scripture as sacred wisdom and God as radically Christlike. Through the lens of love and the cross, this episode encourages us to unlearn harmful ideas and reimagine a faith rooted in Jesus—the ultimate Word of God.

Welcome to this episode, where we explore Chapter 3 of Mike Houston’s Deconstruction as Discipleship, titled Provocations of Faith Disorientation. In this chapter, Mike unpacks what causes many to move from a settled faith into a place of questioning and disruption. Whether it’s personal pain, theological rigidity, or institutional harm, he suggests that disorientation is often the beginning of a sacred journey—one that can lead to deeper authenticity and a more Jesus-shaped faith. This isn’t about losing faith, but reimagining it through honest reflection, courage, and the hope of spiritual renewal.

Welcome to this episode, where we dive into Chapter 2 of Deconstruction as Discipleship by Michael Houston, titled The Syntax of Deconstruction. In this chapter, Mike explores how the language and metaphors we use shape our experience of faith transition. Drawing on the Psalms, he outlines a powerful framework—Orientation, Disorientation, and New Orientation—to describe the movement of deconstruction. Far from being just about loss, this journey can be constructive, poetic, and even creative. Using imagery from gardens, jazz, and cartography, Mike invites us to reimagine faith as a living, evolving process grounded in authenticity and transformation.

Welcome to this AI-generated podcast series, based on Deconstruction as Discipleship: A Credo for a Christ-like Community Wrestling with Faith by Mike Houston. Drawing from over 35 years of church leadership, Mike shares his personal journey alongside the stories of others who have walked with him. Through theological, biblical, and pastoral reflection, he engages with scholars, writers, and contemporary culture to explore the evolving landscape of Christian faith.
In this series, we distil the key insights from Mike’s paper, focusing on how faith deconstruction—often seen as a crisis—can actually be a sacred and necessary process. Mike argues that when approached thoughtfully, faith disruption can become a transformative path toward a “Jesus-shaped” spirituality and a more authentic, compassionate Christian community.
This first episode corresponds to Chapter One of the paper, where we explore the meaning and significance of the term deconstruction within a faith and wider context.
To request a full PDF version of the paper, please visit the contact page at www.bethnalgreenmissionchurch.co.uk.