Deep Roots

In this episode of the Deep Roots podcast from Oak Hill College, host Jonny Reid sits down with a truly unique powerhouse couple: theologian Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer (Research Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and incoming Blanchard Professor at Wheaton College) and writer/artist Sylvie Vanhoozer.

Together, they bridge the gap between high-level theology and everyday creative practice. Drawing insights from Sylvie’s book, The Art of Living in Season, and Kevin’s recent release, Mere Christian Hermeneutics, this conversation explores how to resist our modern culture of distraction. Discover how the spiritual discipline of slowing down, the beauty of the local environment, and the daily rhythms of marriage and parenting serve as profound environments for Christian discipleship.

🔑 Key Takeaways & Topics

• The Provençal Manger Metaphor: How an old French Christmas tradition teaches us to root Christ in our specific, local context and offer our everyday work to Him.
• Slowing Down as Discipleship: Why moving at a contemplative pace is a radical, counter-cultural act in an age of corporate attention deficit disorder.
• Inhabiting the Present Season: Finding God's grace and presence even in seasons of displacement, longing, or "the bleak midwinter."
• Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Bridging the artificial divide between text-based exegesis and systematic theology to read the Bible for its true end: formation unto godliness.
• The Theology of Home: How hospitality, shared tables, marriage, and parenting serve as the ultimate "graduate schools" of sanctification.

⏳ Chapter Markers

• 00:00 - Introduction to Deep Roots Podcast
• 01:06 - Exploring Christian Discipleship Through Art and Theology
• 03:58 - The Importance of Slowing Down in Discipleship
• 09:29 - Cultivating Attention in a Distracted Culture
• 11:45 - Finding Home in Displacement
• 13:46 - Understanding Mere Christian Hermeneutics
• 18:45 - Integrating Theology and Exegesis in Discipleship
• 20:18 - The Collaborative Journey of Marriage and Ministry

📚 Featured Resources & Links

• Oak Hill College: Learn more about theological training and community life at Oak Hill College.
• Sylvie Vanhoozer's Book: Purchase The Art of Living in Season: A Year of Reflections for Everyday Saints (IVP).
• Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer's Books:
  • Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically
  • The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology
• Academic Profiles & Websites:
  • Explore Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer's academic work via Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and his transition to Wheaton College.

Pastoral ministry is deeply rewarding — but it can also be deeply lonely.

In this episode of Deep Roots, Jonny Reid sits down with Andrew Nicholls, Director of Pastoral Care at Oak Hill College, to explore what it really takes to sustain ministry over the long haul.

Andrew shares his journey from medicine to pastoral ministry, the lessons he learned about truly knowing people (not just preaching to them), and insights from a five-month study leave in South Africa, Kenya, the United States, and Australia.

They discuss:

Why pastors must understand people — not just theology

The difference between warning the idle, encouraging the disheartened, and helping the weak

The loneliness many ministers experience

The growing model of pastoral supervision in Sydney

How churches might better sustain their leaders

A new small group resource designed to deepen Christian conversations

If you’re in ministry — or care about those who are — this episode offers wisdom, honesty, and hope.

👤 ABOUT ANDREW NICHOLLS Andrew Nicholls serves as Director of Pastoral Care at Oak Hill College. Before theological training, Andrew worked as a doctor for ten years before moving into pastoral ministry in South West London. He later trained in biblical counselling with the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) in Philadelphia.

He co-authored: Real Change (with Helen Thorne) — a small group resource on spiritual growth

🔗 Oak Hill College: https://www.oakhill.ac.uk

🔗 CCEF: https://www.ccef.org

📌 SHOW NOTES In This Episode:

From medicine to ministry: Andrew’s story

Why preaching isn’t enough without knowing your people

Lessons from South Africa on cross-cultural pastoral conversations

Learning from CCEF in Philadelphia

What Sydney’s model of pastoral supervision can teach the UK church

Building resilience in ministry Why “one another” ministry matters

A new small group course on deepening Christian conversations

0:00 Introduction

0:35 Andrew’s Journey: From Medicine to Ministry

4:34 Knowing Scripture and Knowing People

5:03 Warn, Encourage, Help — Discernment in Pastoral Care

8:27 The Gift of Study Leave

11:56 Learning Across Cultures

15:29 Pastoral Supervision in Sydney

21:05 Supporting Ministers in the UK

25:03 Deepening Christian Conversations

27:14 Why Pastoral Care Matters in Theological Training

28:23 Outro

#DeepRootsPodcast #ChristianLeadership #PastoralCare #ChurchLife #MinistryMatters #PastoralSupervision #ChurchLeadership #TheologicalTraining #MinistryResilience #BiblicalCounseling #ClergyCare #LeadershipDevelopment #ChristianFormation #SustainableMinistry

What if mission isn’t just one theme in the Bible — but the very framework that holds the whole story together?

In this episode of Oak Hill College’s Deep Roots Podcast, Chris Howles is joined by Revd Dr Christopher J. H. Wright, one of the world’s leading Old Testament scholars and a key voice in global mission theology. Together, they explore what it means to read Scripture through a missional lens — seeing the Bible not as a collection of disconnected texts, but as the unfolding story of the God who is on mission to redeem the world.

Chris Wright reflects on the newly released second edition of The Mission of God, first published 20 years ago and now widely used as a core text in theological education around the world. He explains why mission is not something the church does occasionally, but something the church is, and why every Christian is called to participate in God’s purposes — wherever they are.

From Luke 24 to Genesis, from Israel’s calling to the Great Commission, this conversation offers deep biblical insight alongside practical wisdom for pastors, leaders, students, and anyone who wants their life to count within God’s great story.

Whether you preach, teach, lead, or simply read the Bible devotionally, this episode will reshape how you see Scripture — and your place within it.

🎙️ In This Episode

• What it means to read the Bible as one unified mission story
• Why mission is not just an activity but the reason the church exists
• A missional reading of Luke 24 and the Old Testament
• How pastors and churches can move beyond a once-a-year “mission Sunday”
• Key updates in the second edition of The Mission of God
• Why every Christian is a “mission partner” — wherever they live and work

👤 About the Guest: Chris Wright

Revd Dr Christopher J. H. Wright is an Old Testament scholar, author, and international ambassador for Langham Partnership, a global ministry founded by John Stott to equip church leaders in the Majority World through theological education, preaching, and literature.

He has taught in India and the UK, served at All Nations Christian College, and written extensively on mission, Scripture, and biblical theology.

📚 Featured Books

• The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (2nd Edition)
• The Great Story and the Great Commission
• Numerous other works on biblical theology, mission, and ethics

🔗 Helpful Links

• 🌍 Langham Partnership: https://langham.org
• 📖 Chris Wright’s website (books, sermons, articles): https://christopherjwright.com
• 🎓 Oak Hill College: https://www.oakhill.ac.uk

#DeepRootsPodcast #ChristianPodcast #BibleAndMission #MissionalChurch #BiblicalTheology

In this episode of Deep Roots, the podcast from Oak Hill College, Jonny Reid, Director of Engagement at Oak Hill College and church elder in Oxfordshire, speaks with Luke Foster, Tutor in Doctrine and Church History.

They explore liberation theology through the lens of Luke’s personal story—growing up in the Roman Catholic cultural context of the Philippines, serving the Anglican church in Chile, and researching the theology of Gustavo Gutierrez.

Luke explains that liberation theology is not simply a “social gospel,” but at its heart a theological response to inhumanity—asking how we speak of God as Father to people who haven’t even been told they are persons.

Jonny and Luke discuss how to engage other theological traditions wisely with grace, confidence, and discernment. The conversation highlights:

The resonant pastoral question at the heart of liberation theology

Concerns about continuity between nature and grace

The distinctive Christology of the Protestant Reformed tradition

Why modern theology still matters for churches today

A thoughtful, warm, and robust discussion on theology, gospel proclamation, culture, and pastoral care.

🎓 Want more from Luke Foster? Check out his book club in January on the Beatific Vision and the book To Gaze Upon God. https://www.oakhill.ac.uk/our-courses/short-courses/to-gaze-upon-god

📖 Explore courses and training at Oak Hill College. https://www.oakhill.ac.uk/our-courses

0:00 – Opening Moment & Podcast Introduction

1:30 – Luke’s Personal Story & Journey into Liberation Theology

6:00 – The Historical & Cultural Context of Liberation Theology

12:30 – Liberation Theology: Core Question Beyond the Stereotypes

18:30 – Gutierrez’s Answer & Catholic Theological Paradigm

25:00 – Theological Concerns & Instability of the Catholic Answer

31:00 – Resources in the Protestant Reformed Tradition

36:30 – Engaging Other Theological Traditions with Wisdom & Grace

41:00 – Final Reflections, Application to Ministry & Outro

#biblical #theology #pastoral #ministry #theological #traditions #liberationtheology #Reformation #Protestant #doctrine #incarnation #sacraments #gospel #culture #churchhistory #Bonhoeffer #C.S.Lewis #Calvin #romancatholicism #Gospelproclamation

Why should Christians—especially pastors and Bible teachers—bother with biblical languages today? In this episode of Deep Roots, Jonny Reid sits down with Rev. Dr. Andrew Cowan, Oak Hill College’s new tutor in Greek and New Testament, to explore the real value of learning Scripture in its original languages.

Andrew reflects on how Greek first came alive for him, how it has deepened his devotional life, and why slowing down in the text changes everything. Together, they address the most common misconceptions: Is it too time-consuming? Can you ever become proficient? Don’t modern translations and digital tools make languages unnecessary? What if you think you’re “not a linguist”?

They also unpack practical examples from Colossians, Revelation, and John 1 that show how Greek and Hebrew reveal nuance, structure, and richness that translations inevitably flatten.

Whether you're a ministry leader trying to keep your languages alive, a student considering theological training, or simply an interested believer who wants to understand Scripture more deeply, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a reminder that God’s Word is worth the effort.

Topics covered:

• Why Andrew first fell in love with Greek
• Spiritual impact of reading Scripture slowly
• Four misconceptions about biblical languages
• Whether modern translations make Greek/Hebrew unnecessary
• How not to misuse “a little Greek”
• Textual examples: Colossians 1, Revelation, John 1
• How to start learning Greek or Hebrew today
• How pastors can revive rusty language skills
• Tools: Daily Dose of Greek, Alpha with Angela, reading groups
• Why God’s Word is worth the effort

Resources mentioned:

• Exegetical Fallacies – D.A. Carson
• Daily Dose of Greek
• Alpha With Angela (YouTube)
• Greek/Hebrew reading groups & refresher retreats at Oak Hill College

00:00 – Intro: Why Study Biblical Languages Today?

02:00 – Andrew's Journey Into Greek & Hebrew

06:30 – How Languages Deepen the Way We Read Scripture

12:00 – The Four Big Misconceptions

18:30 – The Danger of Knowing Just a Little Greek

24:30 – Key Payoff Example: Colossians 1:28–29

31:30 – Greek, Grammar & Theology

40:30 – The Bigger Picture: Structure, Wordplay & Nuance

48:00 – How to Start Learning Greek or Hebrew

55:30 – Reviving Rusty Languages for Ministry

01:03:00 – Resources, Community & Learning Support

01:10:00 – Final Answer: Because the Word of God Is Worth It

01:14:00 – Oak Hill’s Training Pathways & Close

What does it mean for the local church to truly “send well”? In this episode of Oak Hill College’s Deep Roots podcast, host Chris Howles sits down with Bradley Bell and Larry McCrary from The Upstream Collective (USA) to explore what it looks like for churches to reclaim their biblical role in global mission.

Together, they unpack the vision behind the Upstream Collective’s motto — “The church sends, we help” — and discuss key insights from their book The Sending Church Applied, including their “Periodic Table of Sending.”

🕊️ Topics include:

• Why every believer is a “sent one”
• How churches can move from reactive to proactive mission sending
• The four stages of a healthy sending culture — Establishing, Developing, Engaging, and Multiplying
• The crucial role of care, commissioning, and re-entry for missionaries
• Practical steps for pastors and leaders to start cultivating a sending culture

📚 Resources mentioned:

• The Sending Church Applied by Bradley Bell, Larry McCrary, and colleagues
• Learn more about The Upstream Collective: https://www.theupstreamcollective.org
• Explore Oak Hill College’s Cross-Cultural Training: https://www.oakhill.ac.uk

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations helping you grow deep roots in theology, mission, and ministry.

🔗 Learn more about Oak Hill’s courses and resources: https://www.oakhill.ac.uk

🎧 Subscribe to Deep Roots for more conversations on theology and ministry.

#DeepRootsPodcast #MinistryLife #OakHillCollege #mission #upstreamcollective

What happens when leaders don’t truly know themselves?

In this episode of Deep Roots, Jonny Reid talks with Dr. Mark Stirling, Programme Director of Oak Hill’s MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership. Together they explore why self-awareness and self-deception are such critical issues in ministry — and how our blind spots can quietly harm those we serve.

Mark shares personal stories and lessons from years in pastoral ministry and medicine, and practical wisdom for cultivating humility, accountability, and honest relationships in leadership.

📖 Topics include:

• Why self-awareness is central to Christian leadership
• How fear, insecurity, and image-shaping distort ministry
• The loneliness of leadership — and how to resist it
• Building honest relationships that help us see ourselves clearly
• What true maturity and self-knowledge look like in Christ

Whether you’re a pastor, elder, or ministry trainee, this episode will help you lead with greater integrity and grace.

🔗 Learn more about Oak Hill’s courses and resources: https://www.oakhill.ac.uk

🎧 Subscribe to Deep Roots for more conversations on theology and ministry.

#DeepRootsPodcast #ChristianLeadership #SelfAwareness #MinistryLife #OakHillCollege

This time on the Deep Roots Podcast, we are joined by @EmuMusic - Philip Percival and Alanna Glover talk with Jonny Reid about three big questions that the church needs to wrestle with in church music and singing.

https://emumusic.com

https://www.oakhill.ac.uk

Technology is changing at lightning speed—but how do we keep up without losing our sanity? In this episode of Deep Roots, Jonny Reid and Robin Barfield dive into the moral panics of the past (yes, people once feared cheap paperbacks!), the accelerating pace of digital change, and how it impacts everything from anxiety to Christian ministry. They also explore how online theological education is shaping a new generation of learners. Whether you're a pastor, a student, or just someone trying to navigate the digital age wisely, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

Everyday Dadding - Are smartphones rewiring my kids brain? - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UNqVNhYs18TPgzeiw0Dlx?si=157456c8a292410f

Fresh off of the plane from Seoul, South Korea, Chris Howles the Director of Cross-Cultural Training here at Oak Hill College shares his experience from The Fourth Lausanne Congress. 5000 believers gathered from every country in the world to Seoul to connect, share and converse with one another and Chris shares how this congress has shaped his thoughts around cross-cultural mission. Tune in to hear his conversation with Eric Ortlund.

Find out more about Oak Hill College

Read Chris' blog on Lausanne

Find out more about Langham Publishing

Listen to "Meet An African Pastor"