Scripture Untangled

Listen or watch Max Jeganathan, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity and Adjunct Speaker for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics being interviewed by seasoned journalist Lorna Dueck. Max talk abouts how happiness comes and goes but Christian joy holds regardless of what's happening. He describes the Bible as a theological document/declaration, not a political one. "It's the way God communicates to us about who He is and who we are, and how He wants us to relate to Him and to one another." he says. Max also talks about sin being something that we are, that it's not based on performance. "Sin is actually an intrinsic brokenness, that explains a break in relationship with God, a relationship that we were all made for." 

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Max Jeganathan is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) and an Adjunct Speaker for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). He has spoken in businesses, universities and legal and political institutions, including the University of Oxford, Imperial College, advisers in Canada’s National Parliament, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Samsung, Lego, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Amazon. 

Born in Sri Lanka, Max’s family moved to Australia as refugees in the mid 1980s. He has worked as a lawyer (civil litigation) and a political & policy adviser in the Australian National Parliament. Max was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford, and is currently undertaking a PhD in Law. He speaks on the intersection between ethics, faith, culture, economics, law, finance and technology. Max lives in Sydney with his wife Fiona and their three young children.

Learn more about Max Jeganathan: linkedin.com/in/maxprijeg

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Providence enables us to trust that history is headed somewhere, might not today be visible to sight. but faith will give way to sight if you wait on God. It's about trusting in promises that have yet to come true and I've always wondered about the truth character of a promise. It's true because you trust the person who made it but it isn't true as a fact yet. And so you're waiting for its fulfillment, but you know enough to trust the promise maker to wait on a fulfillment. And I think that's where John, you know, it's unbelief to give up that hope. You know, we are as one American preacher says: We're prisoners of hope. We're obliged to hope in a very good way to see how the grace of God will emerge here too.
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Listen to Rev. Dr. Richard Topping (President of Vancouver School of Theology) share with Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling (Ambassador, Canadian Bible Society) about the influences that helped shape his faith journey. Recorded as part of the series, The Word for Life: When Scripture Comes Alive, Richard talks about how the Bible is key to our understanding of God, how it stokes our imagination to help us see what we can't see fully yet, and how looking through the lens of Scripture frames our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.  

Richard Topping received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from University of Waterloo, a Master of Arts in Theology from St. Michael’s University in the Toronto School of Theology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Theology from Wycliffe College, where his thesis Director was Professor John Webster. His doctoral thesis focused on theological interpretation of scripture in Hans Frei and Karl Barth.

Richard was Minister at Zion and Knox Presbyterian Churches in Muskoka, Ontario from 1993-1996 and at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal, Quebec, where he was Assistant Minister from 1997-1999 and Senior Minister from 2000-2009. He has written or coauthored a number of documents for the Presbyterian Church in Canada, including a Catechism for Today (2008) and Together in Ministry (2006). He currently serves on the Church Doctrine Committee for the national church.

Richard taught at Presbyterian College (2001-2009) in the Montreal School of Theology at McGill University in the areas of Preaching, Pastoral theology, Introduction to Ministry and Church, Ministry and Sacraments.

Richard holds the St. Andrew’s Hall Chair in Studies in the Reformed Tradition and has been the Principal of Vancouver School of Theology since 2013. He teaches in the areas of Introduction to Theology, Reformation History, Christian Spirituality and Reformed Theology of the 19th and Twentieth Century. He has published in the areas of theological hermeneutics, homiletics, philosophy of religion, systematic theology and the theologies of John Calvin and Karl Barth. He has edited a collection of essays, for the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, Calvin @500, and is currently editing a series of faculty essays with Profs. Ashley Moyse and Harry Maier, Theological Ten Percent, which are an introduction to theological study. He is also working on a book which examines the role of the imagination in postmodern theology.

Richard initiated a Karl Barth reading group which has been active now for 11 years. He is a regular preacher in the Vancouver area and lecturer across the country in the areas of pastoral leadership and strategic direction.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Listen to Rev. Dr. Richard Topping (President of Vancouver School of Theology) share with Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling (Ambassador, Canadian Bible Society) about the influences that helped shape his faith journey. Recorded as part of the series, The Word for Life: When Scripture Comes Alive, Richard talks about how the Bible is key to our understanding of God, how it stokes our imagination to help us see what we can't see fully yet, and how looking through the lens of Scripture frames our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.  

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Richard Topping received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from University of Waterloo, a Master of Arts in Theology from St. Michael’s University in the Toronto School of Theology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Theology from Wycliffe College, where his thesis Director was Professor John Webster. His doctoral thesis focused on theological interpretation of scripture in Hans Frei and Karl Barth.

Richard was Minister at Zion and Knox Presbyterian Churches in Muskoka, Ontario from 1993-1996 and at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal, Quebec, where he was Assistant Minister from 1997-1999 and Senior Minister from 2000-2009. He has written or coauthored a number of documents for the Presbyterian Church in Canada, including a Catechism for Today (2008) and Together in Ministry (2006). He currently serves on the Church Doctrine Committee for the national church.

Richard taught at Presbyterian College (2001-2009) in the Montreal School of Theology at McGill University in the areas of Preaching, Pastoral theology, Introduction to Ministry and Church, Ministry and Sacraments.

Richard holds the St. Andrew’s Hall Chair in Studies in the Reformed Tradition and has been the Principal of Vancouver School of Theology since 2013. He teaches in the areas of Introduction to Theology, Reformation History, Christian Spirituality and Reformed Theology of the 19th and Twentieth Century. He has published in the areas of theological hermeneutics, homiletics, philosophy of religion, systematic theology and the theologies of John Calvin and Karl Barth. He has edited a collection of essays, for the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, Calvin @500, and is currently editing a series of faculty essays with Profs. Ashley Moyse and Harry Maier, Theological Ten Percent, which are an introduction to theological study. He is also working on a book which examines the role of the imagination in postmodern theology.

Richard initiated a Karl Barth reading group which has been active now for 11 years. He is a regular preacher in the Vancouver area and lecturer across the country in the areas of pastoral leadership and strategic direction.

Learn more about Richard Topping: vst.edu/people/richard-topping

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

The biggest thing for me because it's what I need the most and then I hope it helps other people, is just to wake up to all the ways God is making overtures to us, whispering to us, reaching out to us. And so you know, I think that the big three of goodness and beauty and truth...these you know, that old-fashioned idea that there's these three transcendentals and they're like little radar pings from the God of the universe and they ping in our soul. Any chance that I can in any kind of writing or communication go: Look there's something beautiful! or Look here's something true! or Look at the possibility for goodness that still exists in image bearers, people made in the image of God! That's all part of this quest to just pay attention, wake up, get the message.
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Listen to singer/songwriter, author and Director of Education for Renovaré, Carolyn Arends being interviewed by Joanna la Fleur in this episode of Scripture Untangled. Carolyn talks about the role of Scripture in her life and different ways to engage with Scripture - prayerfully reading of Scripture, imaginative entering into Scripture and meditation on Scripture. They also discuss the honesty, realness and faithfulness that Carolyn weaves into her songs, and her efforts to listen, wake up and pay attention to God's little calling cards. Her hope is that her latest album, Recognition helps other people wake up to all the ways God is making overtures, whispering and reaching out to us. What are the ways we can open ourselves up to God to heal and transform us, to make us whole and holy?

Carolyn Arends has released 14 albums (including two brand new projects, Recognition, and In the Morning) and is the author of 3 critically-acclaimed books. 15 of Arends’ songs have become top 10 radio singles on the Canadian pop and US Christian charts. Carolyn has earned 2 Dove Awards, 3 Juno Nominations, and was recognized as the West Coast Music Awards’ Songwriter of the Year. Her prose has been recognized by The Word Guild, The Evangelical Press Association and The Canadian Church Press Awards. 

In addition to her busy touring and speaking schedule, Carolyn has been a regular columnist for Christianity Today, Faith Today, and CT Women, and has served as an adjunct professor at a number of universities. She has a degree in Psychology and English from Trinity Western University and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Regent College. She lives in Surrey, BC with her husband, Mark, and their young adult children Benjamin and Bethany.

Carolyn is currently the Director of Education for Renovaré, a far-reaching organization that encourages and nurtures spiritual renewal. She continues to be available on a select basis for speaking, retreat facilitation, concerts, worship leading and songwriting and performance seminars.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Listen or watch singer/songwriter, author and Director of Education for Renovaré, Carolyn Arends being interviewed by Joanna la Fleur in this episode of Scripture Untangled. Carolyn talks about the role of Scripture in her life and different ways to engage with Scripture - prayerfully reading of Scripture, imaginative entering into Scripture and meditation on Scripture. They also discuss the honesty, realness and faithfulness that Carolyn weaves into her songs, and her efforts to listen, wake up and pay attention to God's little calling cards. Her hope is that her latest album, Recognition helps other people wake up to all the ways God is making overtures, whispering and reaching out to us. What are the ways we can open ourselves up to God to heal and transform us, to make us whole and holy?

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Carolyn Arends has released 14 albums (including two brand new projects, Recognition, and In the Morning) and is the author of 3 critically-acclaimed books. 15 of Arends’ songs have become top 10 radio singles on the Canadian pop and US Christian charts. Carolyn has earned 2 Dove Awards, 3 Juno Nominations, and was recognized as the West Coast Music Awards’ Songwriter of the Year. Her prose has been recognized by The Word Guild, The Evangelical Press Association and The Canadian Church Press Awards. 

In addition to her busy touring and speaking schedule, Carolyn has been a regular columnist for Christianity Today, Faith Today, and CT Women, and has served as an adjunct professor at a number of universities. She has a degree in Psychology and English from Trinity Western University and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Regent College. She lives in Surrey, BC with her husband, Mark, and their young adult children Benjamin and Bethany.

Carolyn is currently the Director of Education for Renovaré, a far-reaching organization that encourages and nurtures spiritual renewal. She continues to be available on a select basis for speaking, retreat facilitation, concerts, worship leading and songwriting and performance seminars.

Learn more about Carolyn Arends:

Website: carolynarends.com 

YouTube: youtube.com/user/CarolynArends 

Instagram: @carolyn_arends

Facebook: @CarolynArendsOfficial

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Again, I would reiterate, I love the work of the translation of the Scriptures into people's language. Because that's part of, frankly, the decolonization process as well. I mean, that was something that was stripped from Indigenous peoples. Children in residential schools were punished for speaking their language. And I think it's the right thing to do, given the legacy of the Church's role in residential schools is to help them reclaim their language. And if Bible Societies and churches can help in that, I think that's a wonderful thing. It touches their heart, it's their heart language and that's...heart languages are a way when we bring the Scripture into their language, we're touching their heart.
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Listen to Associate Dean and Professor of New Testament Studies at Acadia Divinity College, Rev. Dr. Danny Zacharias being interviewed by CBS Ambassador, Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling. They discuss the role of Scripture in our daily lives and the relationship between and the integration of culture, heritage, and the Christian faith. How can culture, heritage and the Christian faith be integrated? How can we articulate our belief in Christ within the context of our own culture? What does the decolonization of faith involve?

Danny Zacharias is a Cree-Anishinaabe & Austrian man originally from Winnipeg, MB (Treaty One territory), with ancestors also residing in Treaty Two, Treaty Three, and Treaty Five territory. He lives in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia) with his wife and four children in Wolfville and is Associate Dean and Professor of New Testament Studies at Acadia Divinity College. He also serves as an adjunct faculty for NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Listen or watch Associate Dean and Professor of New Testament Studies at Acadia Divinity College, Rev. Dr. Danny Zacharias being interviewed by CBS Ambassador, Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling. They discuss the role of Scripture in our daily lives and the relationship between and the integration of culture, heritage, and the Christian faith. How can culture, heritage and the Christian faith be integrated? How can we articulate our belief in Christ within the context of our own culture? What does the decolonization of faith involve?

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Danny Zacharias is a Cree-Anishinaabe & Austrian man originally from Winnipeg, MB (Treaty One territory), with ancestors also residing in Treaty Two, Treaty Three, and Treaty Five territory. He lives in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia) with his wife and four children in Wolfville and is Associate Dean and Professor of New Testament Studies at Acadia Divinity College. He also serves as an adjunct faculty for NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community.

Learn more about Danny Zacharias

Website: dannyzacharias.net

Acadia Divinity College: acadiadiv.ca/staff/daniel-zacharias/ 

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Lamin Sanneh, wonderful African theologian wrote a great book a few years ago, called Whose Religion is Christianity. And he makes the point that all the major world's major faith traditions have largely stayed focused on the culture where they began. So, Islam is an Arabic faith you pray in Arabic. You pray facing Mecca. Saudi Arabia is the spiritual center, so it's remained centered on Arabia. Thailand...Buddhism...90% of the world's Buddhists are in Thailand, and that part of Asia, you know, the whole thing sort of kicks off.

And so it goes for all the world's major faith traditions. The one exception Lamin says is Christianity. It begins as a Middle Eastern faith, then it expands into Asia and becomes an Asian faith, then it goes west and becomes an African faith then it heads up north and becomes a European faith. It goes across the Atlantic with the Pilgrim Fathers and becomes an American faith. Now it's headed south and becomes a Latin American faith. It's going back into Africa, again, with millions of Christians there, and again, now spreading like wildfire across the Middle East. And he makes the point: Christianity is...you can't pin it down, because it's not tied in to one human culture. Because the God of the Bible is much bigger than human culture even though in the person Jesus, He stepped into one culture in particular.
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Listen to author, speaker and apologist, Andy Bannister being interviewed by author and theologian, Andrew Ollerton. They discuss the difference between the Bible and the Quran, and how to answer questions about the Christian faith and really lean into the tough ones. Andy also talks about his latest book, How To Talk About Jesus Without Looking Like An Idiot, an accessible, practical, down-to-earth book on Evangelism and how to adopt Jesus' approach of asking questions and listening very closely.

Dr. Andy Bannister is the Director of Solas Centre for Public Christianity an evangelism and training organization based in Scotland (but covering the whole of the UK) and is a highly sought after speaker, writer, and broadcaster. From universities to churches, cafes to pubs, schools to workplaces, Andy regularly addresses audiences of Christians and those of other faiths or none on issues relating to faith, culture, politics and society. 

Andy holds a PhD in Islamic studies and has taught extensively at universities across Canada, the USA, the UK and further afield on both Islam and philosophy. He is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam at Melbourne School of Theology and is also Adjunct Faculty at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. His latest book is How To Talk About Jesus Without Looking Like An Idiot. Andy also hosts two podcasts, PEP Talk and Pod of the Gaps and presents the Short Answers video series for Solas.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

Listen or watch author, speaker and apologist, Andy Bannister being interviewed by author and theologian, Andrew Ollerton. They discuss the difference between the Bible and the Quran, and how to answer questions about the Christian faith and really lean into the tough ones. Andy also talks about his latest book, How To Talk About Jesus Without Looking Like An Idiot, an accessible, practical, down-to-earth book on Evangelism and how to adopt Jesus' approach of asking questions and listening very closely. 

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Dr. Andy Bannister is the Director of Solas Centre for Public Christianity an evangelism and training organization based in Scotland (but covering the whole of the UK) and is a highly sought after speaker, writer, and broadcaster. From universities to churches, cafes to pubs, schools to workplaces, Andy regularly addresses audiences of Christians and those of other faiths or none on issues relating to faith, culture, politics and society. 

Andy holds a PhD in Islamic studies and has taught extensively at universities across Canada, the USA, the UK and further afield on both Islam and philosophy. He is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam at Melbourne School of Theology and is also Adjunct Faculty at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. His latest book is How To Talk About Jesus Without Looking Like An Idiot. Andy also hosts two podcasts, PEP Talk and Pod of the Gaps and presents the Short Answers video series for Solas. 

Learn more about Andy Bannister: andybannister.net

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca

I mean, people will say, well, do you take the Bible literally? And my question is, well, which parts you know? Because if you mean like, well, then Jesus is a door. Like He is a wood door or He's a vine. Okay? Well, do you think He's a stick? No. Of course you're gonna... this is so important. We always read the Bible in context. We have a little aphorism we use. We say, never read a Bible verse. Never read a Bible verse. What do we mean? We're not saying don't read the Bible. We're saying, just don't read a single verse without looking at the context - the verses before and after the paragraph, the chapter, even the vibe, the book inside the Bible, as the context dictates. So, it's really important that we understand what it is we're reading. I think this is where Christians get all mixed up.
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Listen to speaker, author and apologist Tim Barnett being interviewed by Joanna la Fleur, as they discuss faith and reason, moral relativism, and the Next Gen's key questions and concerns. Are faith and reason at odds? Is there such a thing as right vs wrong? Is Christianity good? Is it ok not to agree with everything in the Bible?

Tim Barnett is an apologist and speaker with Stand to Reason (STR), an apologetics ministry dedicated to training Christians to think more clearly about their faith. Tim travels across the U.S. and Canada, speaking to thousands of people each year. He is also a frequent guest on podcasts and YouTube channels.

Before starting at STR in 2015, Tim worked as a teacher, employed in both the private and public sector. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from York University, a Bachelor of Education from Ontario Tech University, and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Between 2014 and 2022, Tim served on the pastoral staff at Cedarview Community Church.

In 2020, Tim began Red Pen Logic with Mr. B, an online ministry that assesses bad thinking on social media by using good thinking. Across all social media platforms, Red Pen Logic (RPL) reaches millions of people every month.

Tim resides in the Greater Toronto Area with his wife, Stacey. They have three daughters and a morkie poo named Polly. Tim enjoys working in the garden and spending time at his family cottage.

• Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca
• Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate
• Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety
• The Bible Course: biblecourse.ca