Theology Project | The Podcast

Is the meaning of “Israel” obvious? That question was hotly debated recently by Senator Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson. In this Theology Project interview, Dr. Jason Staples takes us deep into what the Bible actually says about Israel, the Jews, the Hebrews, and how Paul redefines everything in Romans 9–11.

Dr. Staples is the author of Paul and the Resurrection of Israel, a groundbreaking book that challenges how Christians and others have traditionally understood Paul’s view of Israel in relation to the church.

🛠️ FREE RESOURCE: "4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff"

Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

👉 Download it here: https://theologyproject.kit.com/buildtrust

📘 Books by Jason Staples:

Paul and the Resurrection of Israel

https://amzn.to/44G0XEa

The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism

https://amzn.to/4kz3p5d

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MATT'S BRAND NEW BOOKS

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN (print)

https://amzn.to/47pttuz (Kindle)

GET THE VIDEOS https://my.seedbed.com/product/free-to-be-holy/

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

MATT'S OTHER BOOKS

Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice https://amzn.to/2xOJmyj

The Letters to the Thessalonians (w/ videos) https://amzn.to/3B0m6su

Bless the Nations https://amzn.to/3eEpiiF

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Across the Wesleyan-Methodist family, something remarkable is happening: churches and denominations are rediscovering the heart of their theological heritage—holiness. In this video, Matt O'Reilly and Bill Ury reflect on how various Wesleyan groups are recovering a robust, life-giving vision of holiness rooted in grace, love, and transformation. This isn’t about legalism or moralism. It’s about reclaiming the beauty of being made holy in Christ.

📘 Check out my book Free to Be Holy: https://amzn.to/4fdWwW4

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on holiness, theology, and discipleship: https://www.youtube.com/theologyprojectonline

▶️ Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/SX2oIq7NtIA

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🛠️ FREE RESOURCE: "4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff"

Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

👉 Download it here: https://theologyproject.kit.com/buildtrust

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GET UPDATES FROM THEOLOGY PROJECT https://www.theologyproject.online/subscribe

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

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Watch the whole discussion here: https://youtu.be/lAtmxFIIXIs

In this clip, Dr. Matt O'Reilly and Dr. Bill Ury discuss how forgiveness of sin and justification by faith are sometimes set up as the main point of Christianity and key books of the Bible like Romans. What is the point of Christianity? Matt and Bill explain how Christian faith is about being drawn more deeply into the life of God such that his presence makes us holy. Justification by faith is the means to the end of sanctification.

GET UPDATES FROM THEOLOGY PROJECT https://www.theologyproject.online/subscribe

MATT'S BRAND NEW BOOKS

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN (print)

https://amzn.to/47pttuz (Kindle)

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church

https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

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What are the enemy’s most effective strategies—and how can Christians resist them? In this conversation, Dr. Jason Vickers joins me to unpack John Wesley’s sermon Satan’s Devices and explore the timeless tactics the devil uses to discourage, divide, and derail believers. We discuss how Wesley’s 18th-century insights still speak with power today, why temptation is often unrecognized, and what practical steps we can take to stand firm in faith.

If you’ve ever wondered how Satan works in the details of everyday life—or how to recognize his schemes before they take root—this interview will give you biblical wisdom and pastoral insight for the fight.

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🛠️ FREE RESOURCE: "4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff"

Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

👉 Download it here: https://theologyproject.kit.com/buildtrust

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Read the sermon -- "Satan's Devices" by John Wesley

Grab Jason's new book coauthored with Ryan Barnett -- Profoundly Christian, Distinctly Methodist

GET UPDATES FROM THEOLOGY PROJECT

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MATT'S BRAND NEW BOOKS

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN (print)

https://amzn.to/47pttuz (Kindle)

GET THE VIDEOS https://my.seedbed.com/product/free-to-be-holy/

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

MATT'S OTHER BOOKS

Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice https://amzn.to/2xOJmyj

The Letters to the Thessalonians (w/ videos) https://amzn.to/3B0m6su

Bless the Nations https://amzn.to/3eEpiiF

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What does neuroscience have to do with following Jesus? In this conversation, psychiatrist and author Dr. Curt Thompson unpacks how brain science helps us understand—and experience—spiritual formation more deeply. Drawing from his groundbreaking work in Anatomy of the Soul, The Soul of Shame, and The Soul of Desire, Dr. Thompson explores the connections between relationships, the mind, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

We discuss why spiritual growth is not just about information but also about embodied practices, community, and the rewiring of neural pathways over time. Curt offers practical ways to engage both science and Scripture to become more fully alive in Christ.

If you’ve ever wondered how the latest insights from neuroscience can enrich your walk with God, this conversation will open your eyes to a more integrated—and hopeful—vision of Christian formation.

Get the Books

The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope

Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices that Can Transform Your Life and Relationships

The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe about Ourselves

GET UPDATES FROM THEOLOGY PROJECT

https://www.theologyproject.online/subscribe

MATT'S BRAND NEW BOOKS

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN (print)

https://amzn.to/47pttuz (Kindle)

GET THE VIDEOS https://my.seedbed.com/product/free-to-be-holy/

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

MATT'S OTHER BOOKS

Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice https://amzn.to/2xOJmyj

The Letters to the Thessalonians (w/ videos) https://amzn.to/3B0m6su

Bless the Nations https://amzn.to/3eEpiiF

SOCIAL

https://www.instagram.com/mattoreillyauthor/

https://www.facebook.com/mattoreillyauthor

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VISIT

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https://christchurchbham.com

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The mark of the beast? The rapture? The second coming? The four horsemen of the apocalypse? In this episode, Dr. Matt O'Reilly tackles these questions and more from the pages of the New Testament book of Revelation. 

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FREE RESOURCE: "4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff"

Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

👉 Download it here: https://theologyproject.kit.com/buildtrust

-----

GET UPDATES FROM THEOLOGY PROJECT https://www.theologyproject.online/subscribe

MATT'S BRAND NEW BOOKS

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification
https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN (print)
https://amzn.to/47pttuz (Kindle)

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

Dr. Matt O'Reilly is Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Birmingham, Alabama, Director of Research at Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a Senior Fellow the Center for Pastor Theologians.

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What if God’s grace was already at work in you—before you ever knew it?

In this clip, Dr. Bill Ury unpacks one of the most powerful and underappreciated truths in Wesleyan theology: prevenient grace. This is the grace that goes before—before faith, before repentance, before we even realize we need saving. It’s the divine initiative that makes human response possible.

Whether you’ve grown up in church or are just beginning to explore the Christian faith, understanding prevenient grace changes everything. It reframes how we think about free will, salvation, and the relentless love of God who moves first—always.

🌀 Want more content like this? Be sure to subscribe and explore the full interview on the Wesleyan order of salvation.

Full Interview: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-vrvfs-191d1d4

Can co-creative leadership transform your church?

In this conversation with Dr. Tom Tumblin (Asbury Theological Seminary), we explore what co-creative leadership is, why it matters, and how it can reshape your ministry team into a collaborative, Spirit-led force for the kingdom.

You’ll hear how moving from control to co-creation builds trust, empowers others, and creates space for shared vision and mission. If you’re a pastor or church leader who wants to lead more effectively without burning out or bottlenecking your team—this conversation is for you.

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🛠️ FREE RESOURCE: "4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff"

Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

👉 Download it here: https://theologyproject.kit.com/buildtrust

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📚 Recommended Resources on Co-Creation:

📌The Way of the Co-Creative Leader by Steffan Surdek https://amzn.to/40m1o59

📌Brave Together: Lead by Design, Spark Creativity, and Shape the Future with Power of Co-Creation by Deaver and Clawson https://amzn.to/4eWnK3f

📌 Lead More, Control Less: 8 Advanced Leadership Skills that Overturn Convention by Marvin R. Weisbord and Sandra Janoff (on co-creative leadership) https://amzn.to/4m1Ad87

📌 Co-Creation…: 13 Myths Debunked: A Practical Guide by Hans Begeer & Lesley Vanleke https://amzn.to/4kR6OMR

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GET UPDATES FROM THEOLOGY PROJECT

https://www.theologyproject.online/subscribe

MATT'S BRAND NEW BOOKS

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN (print)

https://amzn.to/47pttuz (Kindle)

GET THE VIDEOS https://my.seedbed.com/product/free-to-be-holy/

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

MATT'S OTHER BOOKS

Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice https://amzn.to/2xOJmyj

The Letters to the Thessalonians (w/ videos) https://amzn.to/3B0m6su

Bless the Nations https://amzn.to/3eEpiiF

SOCIAL

https://www.instagram.com/mattoreillyauthor/

https://www.facebook.com/mattoreillyauthor

https://www.facebook.com/theologyprojectonline

https://twitter.com/mporeilly

VISIT

https://www.theologyproject.online

https://christchurchbham.com

This page contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

What does it really mean to take the Lord’s name in vain? In this episode, Dr. Carmen Imes joins Theology Project to challenge the common assumption that the third commandment is only about swearing. Drawing from her book Bearing God’s Name, she shows how this command is actually about identity, mission, and representing God well in the world. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to truly honor God’s name, this conversation will open your eyes.

Books by Carmen Imes

Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters

Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters

Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters

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What is salvation, and how do Wesleyans understand its depth and scope?

In this episode, Dr. Matt O’Reilly sits down with Dr. Bill Ury for an engaging discussion on the Wesleyan/Methodist order of salvation. Together, they unpack key aspects of this transformative journey, including prevenient grace, justification, sanctification, and more. You'll learn how justification relates to the new birth and why grace is not a thing.

Explore how the Wesleyan understanding of salvation emphasizes God’s grace at every stage, the question of free will, and the believer’s call to holiness. Learn how John Wesley’s insights into salvation continue to inspire Methodists and Christians around the world to pursue a life marked by faith, love, and spiritual growth.

This conversation delves into questions like: How does grace lead us to salvation? What role does sanctification play in our spiritual journey? And how can Wesleyan theology offer hope and clarity in today’s world? Perfect for Methodists, pastors, theologians, and anyone curious about Christianity or the Bible, this video will deepen your understanding of God’s saving work and its practical relevance for daily life.

Along with his wife, Diane, Dr. Bill Ury serves as National Ambassador for Holiness with the Salvation Army. He is a sought after speaker and author of multiple books. Before coming to the Salvation Army, Bill served as a pastor and was a professor of theology at Wesley Biblical Seminary for 25 years.

Books by Bill Ury

Christology as Theology
https://amzn.to/4ga86AJ
The Bearer: Forgiving as Christ
https://amzn.to/4fFTn0q
Trinitarian Personhood
https://amzn.to/4i0lAAC

Brand New Books by Matt O'Reilly

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification
Print: https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN
Kindle: https://amzn.to/47pttuz
Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church
https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

This page may contain affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.