Why does evangelism feel stuck in today's culture? Cultural thinkers and pastors Glen Scrivener and Rory Shiner reveal how the gospel truly breaks through in a post-Christian world obsessed with progress, identity, and anti-woke backlash!

Rory Shiner, pastor of Providence Church, Perth, and Glen Scrivener of Speak Life bring decades of frontline evangelism, cultural apologetics, and gospel proclamation. They unpack how to herald "Jesus is Lord" amid secular assumptions, mental health crises, and shifting political vibes.

We explore:◼️ Why "Jesus is Lord" is the bullseye of every gospel conversation (not just a personal lifestyle tip)◼️ The "yes but no but yes" approach to engage both progressive human rights ideals and conservative responsibility calls◼️ How the anti-Hitler moral story quietly replaced the pro-Jesus vision—and what that means now◼️ Why the church itself needs constant evangelising with the rich, compelling reality of union with Christ◼️ The surprising cultural moment where people are drawn back to Christianity's infrastructure—and how to point them to Jesus Himself

Chapters:

02:29 Understanding the Role of Evangelism

05:23 The Importance of the Gospel in the Church

08:27 Defining Evangelism in Today's Culture

14:17 Cultural Narratives and Their Impact on Evangelism

20:39 The Progress Narrative and Its Challenges

31:21 Engaging with Cultural Narratives in Evangelism

39:39 The Intersection of Masculinity and Faith

41:44 Shifting Narratives in University Evangelism

43:43 Understanding Misconceptions of Christianity

45:18 Public vs. Private: The Western Perspective on Faith

49:00 The Role of Secularism in Modern Christianity

50:10 Public Displays of Religiosity in Contemporary Culture

52:49 Christian Nationalism: A Comparative Analysis

56:43 The Evolution of Gospel Presentation

59:45 Contextualizing the Gospel for Today's World

01:04:04 The Shift in Evangelism: Understanding Modern Faith Conversations

01:07:24 Jesus as the Center: The True Meaning of Abundance

01:09:27 The Role of Debate in Evangelism: A Double-Edged Sword

01:17:46 Navigating Social Media: The Missionary Approach

01:28:56 Excitement in Ministry: Future Projects and Personal Reflections

Find out more about Glen and his work with Speak Life: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakLifeMedia

Find out more about Rory and his work with Providence City Church: https://providencechurch.org.au/city/

Christmas is both the most wonderful time of the year and arguably for many, the most isolating and anxiety inducing time of the year.  But how can we, as Christians, both engage in and enjoy this season in a way that celebrates Jesus and loves others?

With many looking forward to spending time feasting with family and celebrating it’s helpful to try reframe how we look at this season through a gospel lens, as it is only through this lens that we see how all things can be redeemed.

Mark and Nas are the perfect people to have this conversation with - they bring their authenticity, intentionality, joyful hearts, love for Jesus and love for others in how they approach celebrating Christmas. Through the conversation we have fun in discovering how Christmas can be the most wonderful time of the year.

*This episode was originally recorded and published back in December 2023 when Santa's sleigh still ran off reindeer power

In the wake of the horrific anti-Semitic attacks at Sydney's Bondi Beach on the 14th December that claimed innocent lives and has left Australia in lament with the Jewish community, how should Christians respond when evil strikes close to home? Why does rage spread so quickly in moments of tragedy, and what does the gospel offer when fear, anger, and loss of innocence threaten to overwhelm us?

Join us as we process this evil act with Chris Cipollone less than 24 hours after the event, exploring how faith shapes grief, justice, and human connection in dark times.

We wrestle through why love is neither passivity nor vengeance, how to grieve without fueling hate, the danger of rage-baiting in a polarised age, why vengeance belongs to God alone, the power of pausing to ask “What does service look like here?”, the hope that breaks cycles of revenge, how the cross holds justice and mercy together, and much more…

Chris Cipollone is a pastor, speaker, and author of Here to Love, a book recapturing the centrality of Jesus’ greatest command: to love God and love our neighbour.

Dr. Sam Chan is a medical doctor turned cultural analyst, author, and one of the sharpest evangelical minds in Australia today. In a world drowning in loneliness, performance anxiety, and the endless chase for validation, why do we still feel unseen, restless, and missing something—even at Christmas? How does the ancient story of a baby in Bethlehem speak directly into our deepest craving: the need to be truly seen, known, and delighted in?

Join us for a warm and profoundly hopeful conversation with Sam Chan as we explore how the gospel reorients our frantic search for identity, frees us from the tyranny of self-improvement, and offers the peace the world keeps promising but never delivers.

Discover why loneliness is the hidden epidemic killing us faster than smoking, why every human heart is scanning the crowd for a face that delights in us, how Christmas is God saying “I see you,” the freedom that comes when your identity no longer depends on titles or trophies, the power of inefficient friendship as evangelism, and much more…

Grab a copy of Sam's latest book "The Missing Peace" from the here https://www.thegoodbook.com.au/the-missing-peace

What happens when the cultural stories we’ve been fed our whole lives meet the brutal reality of death and loss? How is suffering the ultimate "red pill" that reveals which story you’re really trusting

In this conversation with Dr. Michael Keller we explore his coming-to-faith story, the cultural lies we all breathe in every day, the night his father, Timothy Keller, died clinging to the creeds and psalms, why the gospel is the only story that can carry both our grief and our joy without breaking and … and much more.

Michael Keller is the founding and senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church–Lincoln Square and a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He also serves as a fellow for The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics.

In a world of over-medication, social media highlights, and avoided pain, how does embracing biblical lament reframe mental health and affliction from isolation to communal healing? Why do we dismiss suffering when Scripture's Psalms invite us to shout, grieve, and find hope through honest disconnection with God Himself?

John Swinton is a Scottish theologian, Professor at the University of Aberdeen, founder of the Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability, exploring the intersections of theology, mental health, and inclusive faith communities.

Search "John Swinton Upside Down People" to find the full episode on Spotify. Apple PodcastYoutube

Why do we need raw, untamed prayers instead of polite, polished ones — and what happens when the Psalms finally give us permission to scream “How long, O Lord?” from the depths of our heart?

In this conversation with Chad Bird we explore why the Psalms are the most honest prayer book the church has ever had, how Jesus has been walking through the Old Testament, the danger of turning Scripture into a rulebook, the healing power of lament in a toxic-positivity culture, and why seeing Christ in the Old Testament is the antidote to both pride and despair … and much more.

Chad Bird is a theologian and author who has spent his life helping modern Christians find Christ in the first two-thirds of their Bibles. He is a Scholar in Residence at 1517 and has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew.

To find out more about Chad - @chadbird

or grab a copy of his recent book "Untamed Prayers" - https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419268-untamed-prayers?_pos=1&_sid=9d007ab47&_ss=r

Prof. Nancy Pearcey is a bestselling author, former agnostic, and America’s pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual, celebrated for books like Love Thy Body and The Toxic War on Masculinity.

In an age where masculinity is labeled "toxic," fatherhood dismissed as optional, and Christian men scapegoated for societal collapse, what does the latest sociological data actually reveal about faith, family, and human flourishing? Why do stable marriages, loving dads, and thriving kids cluster around faithful Christian men—contrary to cultural narratives?

Join us as we unpack these provocative findings with Prof. Pearcey and explore how biblical truth dismantles modern myths about gender, marriage, and the family.

Discover why Christian men lead in marital stability and paternal investment, the hidden history of the nuclear family, how Darwinism and industrialism fractured fatherhood, the data debunking "toxic masculinity," the redemptive power of Scripture in restoring men’s roles, the cultural cost of father absence, and much more...

To find out more about Professor Pearcey or her work visit - ⁠www.nancypearcey.com

In an age of doubt, deconstruction, and shallow gospel presentations, how does a biblical understanding of hell, salvation, and eternity reframe our faith from mere escapism to an intimate relationship with a holy God? Why do we reduce heaven to perks and hell to punishment, missing the heartbeat of Scripture of knowing God Himself?

Matthew Tingblad is a speaker with Sightline Ministry (formerly Josh McDowell Ministry) , apologist, and author of Why Did God Do That?, tackling the toughest questions about God's goodness in a broken world.

Search "Matthew Tingblad Upside Down People" to find the full episode on Spotify. Apple PodcastYoutube

In this profound conversation, Steve Midgley invites us to move beyond helplessness in trauma's wake by discovering refuge in Christ and embracing the transformative practice of lament. He encourages the church to cultivate corporate expressions of lament, drawing on the Psalms to find words for the pain and cultivate deeper communal bonds amid suffering. What does it look like to stand in awe of God together and learn to love people when they are vulnerable and suffering?

Steve Midgley is a pastor, former psychiatrist, and author committed to bridging biblical truths with mental health realities through his compassionate ministry and writing.