What did the Lord’s Supper look like in the early church? And what might the church today have lost by moving away from the shared meal?

In this episode, New Testament professor John Taylor joins us to explore the early church’s practice of the Lord’s Supper and what its meal-centred nature might teach Christians today. Drawing on his research into early Christian practices, John traces how the Lord’s Supper gradually became separated from the communal meal, and considers what this change has meant for Christian fellowship, community and worship.

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📚About Our Guest

John Taylor is a New Testament professor whose research explores the practices of the early church, including the Lord’s Supper and its significance for the contemporary church.

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Discover more books and resources from Inter-Varsity Press:

👉 https://ivpbooks.com

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This is an Inter-Varsity Press podcast featuring IVP authors exploring themes within and beyond Nicene Creed by connecting Scripture, theology, and the Christian life today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who was Jesus? And why does he still provoke such strong reactions today?

In this episode Australian theologian Mike Bird joins us to explore the historical Jesus, the kingdom of God, and why every generation finds itself returning to the person of Christ. Drawing on his book Whispers of Revolution, Mike explains why understanding Jesus means understanding the whole story of Scripture—and why theology, history and biblical studies belong together.

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📚About Our Guest

Michael F. Bird is a British-Australian New Testament scholar, theologian and Anglican priest. He is the author of a number of books, and the podcast host of History's Last Stand and co-host on the Ask NT Wright Anything Podcast.

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Discover more books and resources from Inter-Varsity Press:

👉 https://ivpbooks.com

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This is an Inter-Varsity Press podcast featuring IVP authors exploring themes within and beyond Nicene Creed by connecting Scripture, theology, and the Christian life today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the book of Numbers really as boring as its reputation suggests? Why should Christians today spend time reading a book filled with censuses, wilderness journeys, battles and laws?

In this episode, biblical scholar Michael Morales joins us to explore the theological depth of Numbers and why this often-overlooked book is foundational to understanding the whole Bible.

Drawing on his work on the book of Numbers and his recent commentary, Michael explores its structure, its Hebrew language, its connections across the biblical canon, and what it reveals about God's presence among his covenant people.

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📚About Our Guest

Michael Morales is a biblical scholar and author whose work focuses on the Old Testament and biblical theology. He has written extensively on the Pentateuch and explores how the books of the Old Testament contribute to the wider story of Scripture.

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📚 Featured books: Numbers 1-19, Numbers 20-36, Who Shall Ascend The Mountain Of The Lord (NSBT), by Michael Morales

🎧 Enjoying The Nicene Sessions? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review wherever you're listening — it really helps others discover these conversations.

📚 Discover more books and resources from Inter-Varsity Press at ivpbooks.com.

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This is an Inter-Varsity Press podcast featuring IVP authors exploring themes within and beyond Nicene Creed by connecting Scripture, theology, and the Christian life today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to be human? It’s a question that feels increasingly urgent in a world of AI, rapidly developing technology and debates around human identity and flourishing. But what if the deeper question isn’t simply what makes us human, but how we become more fully human?

In this episode, Pastor and Theologian Ian Payne joins us to explore themes from his latest book, The Message of Humanity, and the Bible’s profound vision for what it means to be human. In a divided and often despondent world, Ian takes us back to the biblical story of our human condition, purpose and destiny — and ultimately to Jesus Christ, the true human and the image of God, in whom we discover not only who God is, but what humanity was always intended to be.

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📚About Our Guest

Dr Ian W. Payne is Executive Director for Theologians Without Borders and was until recently Interim Pastor of Eden Community Church, Auckland, New Zealand. He was formerly Principal and Head of Theology, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS), Bangalore, India, where he taught systematic theology for over twenty years. He is author of Wouldn’t You Love to Know? Trinitarian Epistemology and Pedagogy. Now based in Tauranga, New Zealand, he is married with three daughters and six grandchildren.

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📚 Featured book: The Message of Humanity by Ian Payne

🎧 Enjoying The Nicene Sessions? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review wherever you're listening — it really helps others discover these conversations.

📚 Discover more books and resources from Inter-Varsity Press at ivpbooks.com.

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This is an Inter-Varsity Press podcast featuring IVP authors exploring themes within and beyond Nicene Creed by connecting Scripture, theology, and the Christian life today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is 'theology' actually for? Should academic theology stay in universities, or should it serve ordinary Christians in the local church?

In this episode where we go beyond the Nicene Creed, Sydney-based theologian Danielle Treweek joins us to explore why theology matters, how books shape the church, and why we need stronger bridges between scholarship and everyday Christian life.

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📚About Our Guest

Dani is a post-doctoral theological researcher, author, and speaker with a ministry focus on relational anthropology.

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Discover more books and resources from Inter-Varsity Press:

👉 https://ivpbooks.com

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This is an Inter-Varsity Press podcast featuring IVP authors exploring themes within and beyond Nicene Creed by connecting Scripture, theology, and the Christian life today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What good is theology if it never leaves the classroom?

In this episode, New Testament scholar Craig Blomberg reflects on a lifetime of teaching, writing and serving the Church. From biblical theology and stewardship to publishing, discipleship and the future of evangelical scholarship, Craig makes a compelling case that the best academic work should always find its way into the life of the local church.

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📚About Our Guest

Craig L. Blomberg is distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He is the author, co-author or co-editor of fifteen books and more than eighty articles in journals or multi-author works. A recurring topic of interest in his writings is the historical reliability of the Scriptures.

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Discover more books and resources from Inter-Varsity Press:

👉 https://ivpbooks.com

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This is an Inter-Varsity Press podcast featuring IVP authors exploring themes within and beyond Nicene Creed by connecting Scripture, theology, and the Christian life today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to believe in “one holy, catholic and apostolic Church”?

In this episode, we explore unity in the global church, the meaning of “catholic” (universal), and the hope of resurrection and eternal life. Even in a divided world, the Nicene Creed points to a deeper spiritual unity in Christ.

• Why the church is “one” despite denominations
• What “catholic” really means
• Baptism, forgiveness, and future hope

William R. (Rusty) Osborne serves as professor of biblical and theological studies at College of the Ozarks. He is the author of Divine Blessing and the Fullness of Life in the Presence of God, as well as God, You Are: 20 Promises from the Psalms for Kids.

Discover more books and resources from IVP:

👉 https://ivpbooks.com

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Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do?

This episode explores the Holy Spirit in the Nicene Creed as Lord and giver of life, sent by the Father and the Son. Through the book of Acts, we see how the Spirit empowers the church, transforms believers, and drives the mission of God.

• The Holy Spirit in the Trinity
• Pentecost and the mission of the church
• How the Spirit works today

Alan J. Thompson is the Head of the New Testament Department at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, Croydon, NSW, Australia, and is the author of The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke’s Account of God’s Unfolding Plan (NSBT) and Colossians and Philemon: An Introduction and Commentary (TNTC).

📚 Colossians and Philemon: https://ivpbooks.com/colossians-and-philemon

Read more books by Alan Murray here

Discover more books and resources from IVP:

👉 https://ivpbooks.com

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Who is the Holy Spirit—and what does He do?

This episode explores the Holy Spirit in the Nicene Creed as Lord and giver of life, sent by the Father and the Son. Through the book of Acts, we see how the Spirit empowers the church, transforms believers, and drives the mission of God.

• The Holy Spirit in the Trinity
• Pentecost and the mission of the church
• How the Spirit works today

Murray J. Smith is lecturer in biblical theology and exegesis at Christ College, Sydney. He is the author of several books and articles. Murray serves as general editor for New Testament of the Reformed Exegetical and Theological Commentary on Scripture, as coeditor of the series We Believe: Studies in Reformed Biblical Doctrine, and as cohost of the Down Under Theology podcast.

Discover more books and resources from IVP:

👉 https://ivpbooks.com

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Why does the Nicene Creed say Jesus died and rose again “according to the Scriptures”?

In this episode, we explore how the Old Testament shapes our understanding of the cross, resurrection, and ascension—and why the Creed anchors faith in real history, even naming Pontius Pilate.

• How the Psalms point to Jesus’ death and resurrection
• Why the ascension matters for salvation
• Christianity as a historical faith, not just ideas

Brian Rosner is a prominent Australian theologian and New Testament scholar. He served as the Principal of Ridley College in Melbourne from 2012 to 2024, where he currently lectures. He is the author and editor of over a dozen books, including Paul and the Law, the Pillar commentary on 1 Corinthians, and The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology.

📚 New Dictionary of Biblical Theology here: https://ivpbooks.com/new-dictionary-of-biblical-theology

Read more books from Brian Rosner here

Discover more books and resources from IVP:

👉 https://ivpbooks.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.