TheoDisc Podcast

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TheoDisc Podcast episodes

February 01, 2023Steve Watts - Church History & Humility
In episode 8 of the TheoDisc Podcast, Kenny chats with Dr Steve Watts about the cultural arrogance borne from ignorance of the context of church history, contrasted with the potential for humility, self-aware insight, and faithful witness. They look at how we can be empowered by a healthy engagement with church history. Enjoy!
Episode 8 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction
01:24-07:01 - Welcome to Steve and 3 questions.
07:09-16:06 - How does our knowledge of history affect our perspective on it? Why has our abandonment of engaging with the history of the church come to be seen as a virtuous and spiritual shedding of a stale and deathly religious expression?
16:15-31:31 - In what ways do we gain a healthy perspective on church history while maintaining a posture of humility?
31:39-36:00 - How can we shift our attention from the heroes and villains to a more holistic view of history?
36:10-45:28 - How can we become more self-aware in our knowledge and also apply it to our witness in our world today?
45:37-End - Close and further information
48 min
January 18, 2023Janey Lawry-White - Why Study Theology?
In this episode, Kenny chats with Janey Lawry-White about why it's important to study theology in today’s climate. Janey not only oversees all operations full-time at WTC, she has also studied on the GradDip and is currently doing the MA, so really knows what she’s talking about!
Episode 7 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction
01:24-04:14 - Welcome to Janey and 3 questions.
04:23-07:33 - Discussion about the accessibility of theological study.
07:42-15:00 - What was your own experience of studying theology and what were some obstacles to study? How transformative has it been for you to study theology?
15:09-21:23 - What are some of the key theological nuggets you've discovered on your own journey?
21:32-30:21 - How have you experienced academic study and the work of the Holy Spirit working together? How would you encourage others who feel they have enough 'Bible things' in their lives? What are the things that have brought you closer to God through your studies?
30:28-32:55 - What would be your encouragement be for those who definitely think that to study theology is not for them?.
32:55-End - Close and further information
35 min
December 21, 2022Tim Mackie - Biblical Studies and Christology
For our Christmas special TheoDisc episode, Kenny Innes and Lucy Peppiatt had a chat with Tim Mackie from BibleProject at 24-7 Prayer's 'The Gathering' in Belfast. They found out more about his journey from being purely a biblical scholar, to gaining a deeper understanding of Systematic Theology and looking at the early church fathers and mothers, and how it plays such a significant part in shaping and influencing our faith. Enjoy!
Episode 5 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction
01:24-05:01 - Welcome to Tim and 3 questions.
05:01-09:33 - Lucy and Tim, how did you guys meet?
09:33-18:05 - What are some of the conversations you've been having around Christology, particularly, and how have your disciplines of Systematics and Biblical Studies overlapped?
18:05-25:56 - In the context of the Incarnation, what were people's conceptions of God, particularly from an Old Testament perspective, and how did the person of Jesus influence them in that context?
25:56-38:40 - Tim, what are your thoughts on the way in which the early church viewed Jesus' incarnational nature and the church fathers who then defended a high Christology?
38:40-46:29 - Tim talks about a big misconception he'd had about the early centuries of the church and how it became very personal for him.
46:29-50:48 - Kenny tries to wrap up the conversation... And then Tim and Lucy talk more about Christology, but in our different contexts today. Tim finishes by talking about where to start when attempting to read the church fathers.
50:48-End - Close and further information
53 min
December 12, 2022Bob Ekblad - Christian Nationalism
In episode 5, we look at how Christian Nationalism is a present danger in the US and to some extent the UK in its pursuit of power and exclusion over love and service.
Bob also has a podcast called Disciple. You can listen to it HERE.
Episode 5 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction
01:24-04:30 - Welcome to Bob and 3 questions.
04:30-07:31 - What do you mean when you talk about 'Christian Nationalism?
07:31-12:04 - How do you see the idea of Christian Nationalism being played out in the USA, particularly in the church, at the moment?
12:04-16:36 - How does assigning a divine value on a nation state affect how we view Jesus and his kingdom? How does the idea of justice fit into us exalting our nations?
16:36-19:23 - In what ways has Christian Nationalism united groups that were previously fairly divided?
19:23-24:15 - Can we look at ways in which we can resist this notion that our nation's future is wrapped up in the future of the Kingdom of God? How can we practically and prophetically speak and work against that?
24:15-30:00 - Do you think that if our focus is on a centralised national power, does it pull us away from the margins where we see Jesus at work in the Gospels?
30:00-End - Closing prayer and further information
34 min
November 28, 2022Tobias Siegenthaler - Reading the Bible as Narrative
In episode 4, we look at how developing awareness of the interplay between New Testament and Hebrew scriptures with regards to literary and narrative links and how reading with this in mind can open our eyes to fresh ways of understanding the text for our world. We do hope you enjoy listening to our fourth episode of the TheoDisc Podcast!
Read the BONUS Blog Post HERE!
Episode 4 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction
01:24-06:30 - Welcome to Tobias and 3 questions.
06:38-11:51 - What does a narrative approach to Scripture look like and how does this compare and contrast to other views, like the historical approach?
12:00-15:42 - Looking at the biblical writers as literary authors in their own right, and not only writers of historical fact, with various examples.
15:50-23:17 - How do we read the Gospels narratively? Reference is made to specific stories in the Old Testament through two examples.
23:26-26:57 - How do we deal with this idea of the unity of Scripture? In what ways can we make the narrative approach to the Bible more accessible?
27:05-32:33 - Thinking of how the idea of 'one meaning' to a biblical passage is often proclaimed, how can we, through a narrative approach, find our stories within the overall Story of the Gospel itself?
32:33-End - Closing information
35 min
November 14, 2022Freddy Hedley - Lamentations
In episode 3, we springboard from Freddy’s PhD work in Lamentations to talk about the ‘right to reply’ that is provided for God’s people, and how this can provoke us to rethink the place of lament and being honest with God in our church communities and personal journeys. Freddy speaks from a deeply lived knowledge of God and the Scriptures with humility, compassion and a genuine invitation to explore together with him. We do hope you enjoy listening to our third episode of the TheoDisc Podcast!
Episode 3 Outline:
Start-01:20 - Introduction
01:24-06:04 - Welcome to Freddy and 3 questions.
06:04-14:10 - Overview of the journey of Freddy’s work in Lamentations – how it came to be the focus of PhD, and the ideas that emerged.
14:10-26:41 - Using Lamentations 1 as a springboard, we can discuss the ‘laments’ or ‘complaints’ that arise in the context of a ‘right to reply’, but also as they reveal the breadth of expression open to God’s people.
26:41-35:05 - How do we navigate faithfully through what Jesus has done for us in his redemptive work, to a place of genuine lament within moments of difficulty?
35:05-39:15 - How do you see the changes happening within our sung worship to incorporate lament and an honest crying out to God?
39:15-End - Closing information
41 min
October 24, 2022Lucy Peppiatt -The Imago Dei (Part 2)
In episode 2, which follows on from the conversation in episode 1, Kenny and Lucy talk through different models of thought concerning the doctrine of the Imago Dei, and how our understanding of the doctrine can have transformative potential in the way we live practically.
Episode 2 Outline:
Start-01:20 – Introduction
01:24-02:31 – Brief recap / introduce direction for this episode on the Imago Dei.
02:31-07:49 – Description of Substantialist / Noetic perspectives.
07:49-12:32 – Looking at ‘image’ and ‘likeness’ and the movement towards God.
12:32-21:30 – Description of Functional / Vocational / Missional perspectives.
21:30-26:33 – Definitions and Outline of Relational Models as influenced by the Renaissance and Reformation.
26:33-30:15 – Modern perspectives on the Imago Dei, which includes issues like embodiment, diversity – race / gender / disability, and also sexuality and desire.
30:15-34:38 – How do we then take the ideas from your book, The Imago Dei, and apply them to our lives and the people around us?
34:38-End – Closing information
38 min
October 17, 2022Lucy Peppiatt -The Imago Dei (Part 1)
In our first ever Theodisc episode, Kenny hosts a discussion of Lucy Peppiatt’s book, The Imago Dei, through an exploration of the doctrine of the Imago Dei and its implications. Part 1 covers a broad exploration of what it means for us to be 'made in the image of God'.
Episode Outline:
Start-01:20 – Introduction
01:24-04:38 – A few of Lucy’s favourite things.
04:38-07:19 – What led to the writing of this book?
07:19-09:16 – Why is the doctrine of the Imago Dei so important for us to wrestle with?
09:16-12:04 – ‘What does it mean to be made in the image of God?’ feels like a fundamental question without a simple answer. Why do you think this is? Is this a function of how wide-reaching the doctrine is to human existence?
12:04-16:16 – As you sifted through some of the history of thought on the Imago Dei, what were some discoveries you made?
16:16-25:11 – Your book opens with a series of questions – perhaps we could touch on some of those and the issues they raise.
25:11-29:49 – We seem to learn something of God by looking at ourselves, and of ourselves by looking at God. How can we push into this while still maintaining a healthy and necessary distinction between God and humanity?
29:49-34:15 – What does being made in the image of God say to those personally who do not feel worthy or that they have any value? How can the Imago Dei be a life-giving doctrine?
34:15-End – Closing information
36 min

About TheoDisc Podcast

From the publisher's feed

TheoDisc is a podcast by WTC faculty and friends with fortnightly episodes on theological ideas that will hopefully stimulate you to pursue your own theological learning and ultimately to deepen your faith. It is a place of discussion and debate, and a place to hear a variety of voices. We do hope you enjoy listening!