TheoDisc Podcast

In this episode of TheoDisc, Kenny talks with Dr Jason Myers about how Paul’s attempts to help the church navigate life under the Imperial rule of Rome can inform our own approach as kingdom witnesses in our context. Enjoy. Episode 16 Outline: Start-01:31 - Introduction. 01:31-06:01 - Welcome to Jason and 3 questions. 06:09-16:28 - Paul was operating in the context of the Roman Empire, and we sometimes miss the nuances of what his political views were like. Could we sketch out a rough picture of what this empire was like and how Paul operated in this context? Paul seems to communicate to the church that they are an alternative society… that they are citizens of another kingdom. What kind of tension would this introduce? 16:37-26:21 - The language of Paul’s letters is so familiar to many of us that it’s difficult to see that many of the things Paul wrote had the potential to be politically inflammatory. Could we talk about some of those terms that have lost their edge with familiarity? What do you think of the pastoral language Paul uses with the church in the midst of empire? 26:29-34:52 - In our context today, what does Paul have to say to us as a church about how we need to think about the political cultures around us and how we express the kingdom of God in that and navigate it in a faithful way? 34:52-End - Close and further information.  

In episode 15 of TheoDisc, we spoke about the theme of Glory in the New Testament. In the preamble to his gospel, John declares of the Son, the Word made flesh, “We have seen his glory”. We explored what this glory means in relation to God, to the early witnesses of Christ, and to us today. Enjoy. Episode 15 Outline: Start-01:31 - Introduction. 01:31-05:38 - Welcome to Adesola and 3 questions. 05:46-18:18 - To start, could we define the word 'glory' in a biblical context? When we open John’s Gospel, the prologue presents us with numerous symbols - how will John be using these throughout his gospel? What prominence does John give to the Father-Son relationship we see in terms of God's self-revelation? 18:26-28:06 - How does John flesh out throughout his gospel, how people have 'seen' the glory of the Father revealed through Jesus? When Jesus prays for his disciples in John 17:22, and says: “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one”, what does that participation look like? 28:15-34:42 - How can we continue to participate in the story of God’s glory and how can we see God’s glory revealed in and through us to the world around us? 34:51-End - Close and further information.  

*Republished episode 14* For many of us, our reading of the Old Testament has been formed in a theological environment that has obscured the often subversive nature of the Bible’s presentation of women and led to interpretations that can be harmful to women. That’s the conversation Kenny had with Ali Blacklee Whittall for this episode. With special thanks to Dr Tamara Knudson for her insightful research into the women of the Old Testament.

In episode 13 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Ruth Perrin and Ed Earnshaw about emerging adults and how the church can be more proactive in reaching out to students in today's context... Episode 13 Outline: Start-00:57 – Introduction. 01:01-05:27 – Welcome to Ruth and Ed, and 3 questions. 05:35-15:39 – Discussion about Ruth’s research into emerging adults and looking at the differences between Millennials and Generation Z. 15:47-23:54 – What is the current attitude of students towards faith and spirituality? What are the opportunities for the church in reaching the student generation? 24:02-31:41 – How can we encourage people in our churches to invest in outreach to students in our areas? 31:50-End – Info about the Student Ministry GradDip, close and further information.  

In episode 12 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Dr Jasper Knecht. Jasper teaches Christian Doctrine at WTC. He grew up in the Netherlands, and completed his PhD in Systematic and Historical Theology at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. His interests include the history of doctrine, and particularly the development of Christological thought in the Patristic era, Late Antiquity, and the Early Medieval Church. Jasper is married to Stefania and is a big fan of classical music. In this conversation, Jasper and Kenny talked about how the early church provides a rich field of study of the Scriptures for the Charismatic church of today. Topics like exegesis, sola scriptura, allegory, and historical critical method abounded in our discussion, and it was truly fascinating. We hope you enjoy it!

In episode 11 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Christine Westhoff. Chris serves on the Int’l team for 24-7 Prayer, and is the founder of Akouo Missions. She is also the author and developer of ReFraming the Prophetic, a biblical reflection course on the gift and purpose of the prophetic. You can find out more at reframingtheprophetic.com In our conversation, Chris unpacked some of the misapplication and misunderstandings of prophetic gifting that she sees in churches, and speaks about her passion to see this vital gift flourishing across the church in a healthy, scriptural and vibrant way. We hope you enjoy this episode!

In episode 10 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Danny Hampson. Danny and his family live and minister in Ibiza as part of 24/7 Prayer and, he is also completing a Masters with WTC. In our conversation we talked about the real Ibiza, the necessity of continual prayer for our awareness of God’s kingdom at work, how theological awareness impacts day to day ministry, and Danny’s MA dissertation which focuses on a trinitarian perspective on peace. We hope you enjoy it! Episode 10 Outline: Start-00:59 - Introduction  01:07-03:11 - Welcome to Danny and 3 questions. 03:20-10:35 - Tell us about your work with 24/7 Prayer in Ibiza... How did you end up there with 24/7 Prayer and what is the Ibiza you have experienced? 10:42-21:45 -  What are some of the things you are involved in with 24/7 Prayer on Ibiza? What does it look like on a practical basis? 21:53-28:42 - Tell us about your Masters with WTC and your dissertation on a trinitarian perspective on peace. 28:50-End - Close and further information  

In episode 9 of TheoDisc, Kenny chats with Bev Murrill about emerging from, and feeling the effects of, the pandemic on church life and practice. They ask what lessons have been learned from that time, and what might church leadership and community look like going forward? Enjoy! Episode 9 Outline: Start-00:59 - Introduction  01:07-04:55 - Welcome to Bev and 3 questions. 05:02-15:23 - Tell us about your own leadership journey and about what you felt God saying to you at the beginning of and during the pandemic. What are some of the lessons you've learned during this time?  15:30-29:54 - Can you tell us more about social cohesion erosion as a result of the pandemic in church communities? Has this led to the death of the 'church machine' and a sense of disillusionment? How can we encourage church leaders who are struggling now?  30:02-33:47 - What does the future of church and church leadership look like for you? 33:55-End - Close and further information  

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  

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