Beyond the Sermon

Why is Psalm 23 one of the most loved passages in the entire Bible? What did David really mean when he wrote, "The Lord is my shepherd"?In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Andrew Chisholm and Matt explore the deeper meaning of Psalm 23, looking beyond familiar words to uncover the powerful imagery, historical background, and life experiences that shaped one of Scripture's most famous psalms.Together they discuss why the shepherd metaphor has connected with people for thousands of years, how David's own experiences as a shepherd and later as a fugitive shaped the psalm, and why the line "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" may carry a much deeper meaning than many readers realise.The conversation also explores how biblical poetry works, why metaphors matter, and how Psalm 23 can still speak into seasons of uncertainty, grief, change, leadership, and everyday life. Andrew shares personal reflections from different seasons of ministry and explains how understanding David's story can transform the way we read this remarkable psalm today.Whether you've read Psalm 23 hundreds of times or you're discovering it for the first time, this conversation offers fresh insights that will deepen your understanding of one of the Bible's most treasured passages.

This week, Shelley and Andrew tackle one of the hardest and most honest questions anyone can ask:If God is good and all-powerful, why is there so much suffering in the world?From earthquakes that shattered entire cities to the quiet personal pain that shakes someone’s faith, we dig into why this question hits so deeply, and why the answers aren’t neat, tidy, or easy.We explore how different worldviews approach suffering, why the Western mind finds this question uniquely confronting, and how our instinct for logic and control makes suffering feel like a contradiction to God’s goodness.Andrew shares insights from history, Scripture, and his own faith journey, and we look at what Christianity uniquely offers:A God who doesn’t just watch suffering from a distance but enters it.A God who knows pain, carries it, and walks with us through it.We also unpack:– Why logical answers often fail people in real pain– What the Book of Job teaches about comfort, doubt, and presence– How suffering can shape us without being simplified or dismissed– Why future hope matters and when it’s the wrong thing to say– How to walk with someone hurting when you don’t have answersThis episode isn’t about fixing the problem of suffering, it’s about facing it with honesty, compassion, and a God who suffers with us.

This week we’re tackling one of the toughest questions people ask about Christianity:How can a loving God send people to hell?Shelley and Clem dive straight into the tension from the idea of eternal punishment, to why the concept feels offensive, to how pop culture, Dante’s Inferno, and centuries of imagery have shaped the way we picture hell.They break down what the Bible actually says about heaven and hell, why Jesus talked about both, and how the idea of free will changes the whole conversation. We explore the difference between God “sending” someone to hell versus people choosing separation from Him, and how thinkers like C.S. Lewis and Tim Keller frame hell as the natural outcome of rejecting God, not a divine torture chamber.Later, Shelley and Clem talk about sin, justice, and why the cross makes no sense unless hell is real and why God’s love always includes both mercy and justice. They unpack why free will matters, why real love can’t be forced, and why heaven is ultimately about choosing to be with God, not just being “a good person.”Click here if you said “yes” to following Jesus or want to get in contact with us:https://linktr.ee/citylifechurchonline

This week Shelley and Deb tackle one of the biggest questions people ask: Has science disproved God?

With both having studied science and theology, they unpack the supposed tension between faith and evidence, and why it’s not really a fight at all.

They explore how some of history’s greatest scientists were people of faith, how the Bible and scientific discovery tell different parts of the same story, one revealing the “how,” the other revealing the “why”, and what Genesis really means when it says God created the world in six days.

Together they discuss:

– Why science and faith can coexist without contradiction

– How the complexity of the human body points to intelligent design

– What the Bible actually says (and doesn’t say) about creation

– Why understanding genre and context matters when reading Scripture

Shelley and Deb also unpack why faith without evidence isn’t blind, how science can strengthen wonder instead of weaken it, and how knowing who created the universe changes everything about how we live in it.

This week, Shelley and Sam tackle one of the hardest questions out there: If Christianity is true, why has the church been responsible for so much injustice?

From the Crusades and colonisation to hypocrisy and abuse scandals, we explore how people throughout history have used (and misused) Scripture and why that doesn’t reflect the real Jesus.

Drawing from Tim Keller’s “The Reason for God,” we unpack how faith has the power to both critique and renew itself and how the gospel, when lived out rightly, has shaped hospitals, human rights, and justice movements across history.Shelley and Sam also talk about how Christians today can respond to the church’s failures with honesty, humility, and hope and how Jesus’ example of sacrifice and love still changes everything.

How do you move from being inspired to truly empowered?

In this episode, we explore the story of Ehud, the role of the Holy Spirit, and what it means to trust God with bold faith even when no one else sees it.

Samson was called, gifted and chosen by God but his story is filled with compromise, deception and a slow drift from what he was meant to be. In this episode, we explore what really happened in the life of one of the Bible’s most well-known heroes and what his downfall says about our own battles with sin. But this isn’t just a cautionary tale Samson’s story ends with a powerful reminder of God’s grace, even after failure.

How do we interpret the Bible and apply ancient stories to our modern lives? In this episode, we dive into the story of Gideon, focusing on how God turned weakness into strength. We’ll unpack key principles for interpreting biblical stories, from understanding the historical context to drawing life lessons that speak to us today.Learn how to approach the Bible thoughtfully, balancing historical details with modern applications. We’ll also discuss when it’s okay to draw symbolic connections (like Gideon’s earthen jars and 2 Corinthians 4:7) and how to avoid stretching the meaning too far.Whether you’re new to the Bible or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode will give you practical tools for reading and interpreting the Scriptures with clarity.

Why is the Bible so violent? In this episode, we dive into Judges, the history of Israel, and what these hard stories teach us about God, faith and the bigger story of the Bible.

The Book of Judges is full of chaos, flawed leaders and surprising faith. In this episode, we explore why it still matters today, how it points to Jesus and what it teaches us about trusting God in messy times.