New Creation Conversations

Dr. Kara Lyons-Pardue is Professor of New Testament studies at Point Loma Nazarene University. Scott and Kara talk about her research on the Gospel of Mark, Paul's Epistle to Philemon, and the role of women in the ministry of Jesus. Kara is also the co-editor of a book entitled Following Jesus: Prophet, Priest, King - from the Foundry Publishing. 

Kara's delight in her calling to pursue biblical studies is fully evident in this conversation. Listeners will be encouraged by her contagious curiosity and delight in both studying and sharing God's Word.

Episode eleven is a conversation with two specialists in Old Testament studies and colleagues who teach together at Point Loma Nazarene University - Dr. Brad Kelle and Dr. Stephanie Smith-Matthews. Together they have edited Encountering the God of Love: Portraits of the Old Testament which includes essays from many of the Old Testament scholars from around the Church of the Nazarene.

Scott, Stephanie, and Brad not only talk about their new book but they also have a conversation about their unique specializations including women in the Old Testament, exile, prophetic imagination, and stories of moral injury. 

Episode ten of New Creation Conversations is with Dr. Michael Lodahl -  Professor of Theology and World Religions at Point Loma Nazarene University. Mike is finishing his 33rd year of teaching: 22 years at Point Loma and 11 years at Northwest Nazarene University. He is an alum of NNU and also has a MDiv degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary and a PhD from Emory University.

Mike has written or edited eleven books and has served as a pastor to congregations in California, Georgia, and Idaho.

In their conversation, Mike and Scott talk about three or four key theological themes that are central to much of Mike's work in such books as The Story of God, Renewal in Love, Relational Holiness, God of Nature and of Grace, When Love Bends Down, and Claiming Abraham.

New Creation Conversations Episode 009 is a with Dr. Sam Vassel - District Superintendent of the Metro New York District in the Church of the Nazarene. Before becoming DS in Metro New York, Dr. Vassel served as lead pastor of the historic Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene for eighteen years.

Sam grew up in Jamaica and graduated from West Indies University. He also has a MA degree from Wheaton Graduate School in New Testament Studies and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. Prior to joining the Church of the Nazarene, Sam pastored, taught theology, and served as a bishop in the Holiness denomination that had been his home church in the Caribbean.

Drs. Daniels and Vassel have a great conversation about Sam's journey in ministry, the challenge of ministry in a great urban and diverse city like New York, the on-going work of racial reconciliation in the church, a theology of Jubilee, and what is making Sam hopeful in these days for the future of the church.

New Creation Conversations episode 8 (a bonus episode) is with Dr. Scot McKnight - the Julius R. Mantley Chair of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He hold degrees from Cornerstone University, Trinity Evangelical Seminary, and the University of Notingham. Scot is a well-known speaker, writer, professor and authority on the historical Jesus, early Christianity, and the New Testament. In addition to the publication of several significant books, Scot's blog - Jesus Creed - is a leading blog and source for Christian faith.

In this conversation, Dr. McKnight and Dr. Daniels discuss several of Scot's books including The King Jesus Gospel, A Community Called Atonement, Kingdom Conspiracy, and his most recent book - co-authored with his daughter Laura - A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture that Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing.

Episode seven of New Creation Conversations is with Dr. Steve Green - the W.N. King Chair of Theology at Southern Nazarene University. Dr. Green holds degrees from SNU, Nazarene Theological Seminary, and Vanderbilt University. Steve has served as a pastor of five different congregations from rural Tennessee to metropolitan Southern California.

Drs. Green and Daniels talk about Steve's most recent books: The Holy Scriptures (part of the Wesleyan Theology Series by the Foundry), and Deuteronomy: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition (part of the New Beacon Bible Commentary series).

This is a moving conversation, in part, because Steve has been such an important mentor in Scott's spiritual and ministerial journey. Scott and Steve served for four years together in ministry at Pasadena First Nazarene Church and five more at Southern Nazarene University and Oklahoma City First Nazarene Church.

In this sixth episode of New Creation Conversations, Dr. Scott Daniels and Dr. Carla Sunberg - General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene - discuss her unique journey of ministry as a nurse, a missionary, a pastor, a district superintendent, a seminary president, and now the 43rd general superintendent.  Scott and Carla discuss her  books, Uncommon Virtues: Seven Saints Who Shaped our Faith; and the soon to be released Color: God's Intention for Diversity (written with Africa Regional Director, Daniel Gomis). Carla is only the second woman to serve as a General Superintendent in Nazarene history, she discusses the challenges of being a woman in ministry and her role as a mentor for the next generation of women clergy following in her footsteps.

Episode five of New Creation Conversation is a very unique conversation with writer, actor, photographer and film director Ryan Daniel Dobson. Ryan has co-starred on The Protector, Castle, How I Met Your Mother, and The Game. He wrote and co-directed the short film Prattle, and wrote, directed and acted in the short film The Romantics. Most recently Ryan wrote and directed the Independent feature film Hosea, a modern retelling of the Biblical story of Hosea, but told through the eyes of Hosea’s wife, Gomer. I got to know Ryan as a student when he was a theology and ministry major at Southern Nazarene University. 

 In our conversation we talk about the challenges Ryan faced in bringing the powerful and beautiful film Hosea to life. We discuss his decision to write and direct a film with obvious biblical themes but is not a typical Christian film. Instead, it is a film that received an R rating and is directed to a broad audience. We also reflect on the challenges of being a disciple of Jesus who is also committed to creating culture – and not just condemning, critiquing, or copying culture.

 This is a very unique conversation with a young artist exploring the challenges not only of making art for a living but of living as a faithful presence of Christ’s kingdom both in the world but also in the church.

In this fourth episode of New Creation Conversations, Dr. Scott Daniels and Dr. David Busic - General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene - discuss discipleship, ministry, leadership, and what is happening across the global church.  Scott and David discuss his  books, Perfectly Imperfect; The City; and his recently released, Way, Truth, Life: Discipleship as a Journey of Grace.

In this third episode of New Creation Conversations, Dr. Scott Daniels and Rev. Michaele LaVigne - Pastor of Spiritual Formation at 8th Street Church in Oklahoma City - discuss spiritual formation, keeping time as a way of practicing discipleship, church planting, and pastoring in a time of disruption.  Scott and Michaele discuss her recent book, Living the Way of Jesus: Practicing the Christian Calendar One Week at a Time.