TheoDisc Podcast

In episode 44 of TheoDisc, Kenny's guest is is Jack Levison, who has recently released a revised edition of his book Fresh Air. He brings some provocative questions to those of us who are charismatic, about the myriad of ways in which the scriptures describe spirit, both divine and human, and how we experience the work and presence of the Spirit of God in our lives. We hope this conversation will give you some renewed ways to think about the way the Spirit of God is at work in our lives. Enjoy.

Jack Levison is the WJA Power Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and Biblical Hebrew at Southern Methodist University in Texas. He holds a BA from Wheaton Colleger, and MA from Cambridge University and a PhD from Duke University. His areas of research interest include Pneumatology; Interpretation of the Adam and Eve tradition; and Second Temple Judaism and he is the author of multiple books including Filled with the Spirit, In Search of the Spirit, A Boundless God, and Fresh Air. 

Links:

Website: https://people.smu.edu/jacklevison/

Get ‘Fresh Air’: https://amzn.eu/d/9VAyX9H

Listen to Jack’s interview with Lucy Peppiatt, Nick Crawley and Matt Lynch: https://wtctheology.org.uk/theomisc/jack-levison-on-the-holy-spirit/

Welcome to this special edition of the TheoDisc podcast which was recorded live at the WTC residential in September 2024. Our Residential is a time when students from all of our Hubs around the UK and Northern Ireland gather together for a week of worship and learning, and we thought it would be fun to record an episode of TheoDisc with our student body as a live audience. 

Our guest was Ben Blackwell who is our current Vice Principal. On the morning of the day we recorded the interview, we announced publicly that Ben would be taking over as Principal for WTC in January and Lucy Peppiatt, our current Principal would assume the role of President of the college. This conversation allowed us to explore Ben’s journey in academic theology, his vision for WTC’s future, and some of his own theological commitments including on the issue of justification.

If you are listening to this on audio, you can check out the video of the interview on our Youtube channel at youtube.com/wtctheology. If you are watching on Youtube, then please subscribe to our podcast on all good podcast providers - find links at wtctheology.org.uk/theodisc 

In episode 42 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with AJ Swoboda about his own experiences and wisdom around the topic of 'Desire'. He is genuinely someone who has wrestled with these things and is eager to help others walk in healing and renewal. In his book, The Gift of Thorns, he helps us to see that desire is actually fundamental to our humanity as God created us. This issue is disordered desire that needs to be brought into the light of God made known in Jesus and healed. We hope you enjoy this episode!

SHOW NOTES

Purchase The Gift of Thorns: https://amzn.eu/d/3gcwLwI

Visit AJ’s website: https://ajswoboda.com/

Subscribe to AJ’s Substack, Low-Level Theologian: https://ajswoboda.substack.com/

Listen to the Slow Theology podcast: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/3tpam-19c8dc/Slow-Theology-Simple-Faith-for-Chaotic-Times-Podcast

In episode 41 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Jared Michelson, who says that his journey into theological study not only saved his faith, but gave him tools with which to minister to people in the midst of the difficulties they face. Theological study made him a better pastor. It’s certainly what we believe at WTC where we aim to build up the church by equipping people for life work and ministry through Jesus-centred, Spirit-empowered theological study. Their discussion about how theology helps us as we minister on the ground in our everyday contexts, is certainly worth listening to. Enjoy!

For this standalone TheoDisc episode, we are re-releasing a previous episode where Kenny and Lucy Peppiatt had a chat with Tim Mackie from BibleProject a couple of years ago in Belfast. They found out more about his journey from being purely a biblical scholar, to gaining a deeper understanding of Systematic Theology and Christology, while looking at the early church fathers and mothers, and how it plays such a significant part in shaping and influencing our faith. Enjoy!

In episode 40 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Tamara Knudson about oaths and vows in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), particularly in the stories of key women figures like Ruth, Hannah and Abigail. Tamara helps us understand the difference between an oath and a vow and how they hold profound and transformative potential as we recognise them in the Scriptural story.

Show Notes

Read Tamara’s thesis on oaths and vows in the Hebrew Bible, ‘She is More to You than Seven Sons’: https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/27441/Thesis-Tamara-Knudson-complete-version.pdf 

Listen to Tamara teaching on Jepthah’s vow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iqLoz-1RVo 

Next Episode

In our next episode, Kenny will be talking about Jared Michelson and the connection between what is often considered ‘high’ or ‘abstract’ theological doctrines and on the ground Christian Ministry.

In episode 39 of TheoDisc, Kenny is joined by Rev Dr Dennis Edwards, who says humility has been misunderstood, manipulated or marginalised, such that it’s been hidden away in a dark corner. But in his book, Humility Illuminated, Dennis wants to recover the biblical roots of humility, its importance for the character of the church, and the way it can bring healing and unity. That is the topic of their conversation, and makes for a brilliant episode. Enjoy!

Show Notes

Website: https://www.revdrdre.com/ 

Humility Illuminated Book: https://amzn.eu/d/0d47L0iX

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RevDrDre

NEXT EPISODE

In episode 40 of TheoDisc, Dr Tamara Knudson will be sharing from her work on the importance of oaths and vows in the Hebrew Bible, how they push the narrative forward, and particularly as they apply to women.

In episode 38 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Nijay Gupta, who would say that weirdness was actually what made the early church attractive. Nijay’s latest book, Strange Religion, talks about how the First Christians were weird, dangerous and compelling. They spoke about how understanding the way these Christians navigated their world with the message of the gospel can help us in our present time and cultures. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

Strange Religion book: https://amzn.eu/d/3PegyH3

Slow Theology podcast: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/3tpam-19c8dc/Slow-Theology-Simple-Faith-for-Chaotic-Times-Podcast

Crux Sola blog: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/cruxsola/

In episode 37 of TheoDisc, Kenny had a really insightful and helpful conversation with Terran Williams on Paul’s instruction in his first letter to Timothy, commonly translated in our English Bibles as ‘I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man’. They focussed in on what is happening in 1 Tim 2 concerning women teaching and leading in the church. We hope you find it helpful for your own understanding.

More about Terran Williams:

WTC Romans Summer School:

In episode 36 of TheoDisc, Kenny is joined by Prof Murray Rae, and they address the question: "Why is the resurrection of Jesus important?" Murray works from the narrative of scripture to explore the ways the resurrection influences our understanding of Christ, salvation, the future, mission, the church, and the unfolding purpose of history. They discuss the proclamation, rather than the proving, of the resurrection, and how its experience is an encounter with Jesus that invites us into participation in his resurrection life. Enjoy!

You can pre-order Murray's book Resurrection and Renewal: Jesus and the Transformation of Creation here: https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9781540966209/resurrection-and-renewal