The Ryley Heppner Podcast

+ Listen to the end for an exclusive new song preview from CityAlight, written in conjunction with Tim Challies' and Tim Keesee's new book, "From the Rising of the Sun." Together again with Tim Challies, this time to talk about his new book, "From the Rising of the Sun," co-written with Tim Keesee. The book journeys around the globe, following the sun from Fiji to Alaska, to witness how believers in different nations and cultures worship the same Lord in diverse and beautiful ways.In our conversation, we discuss what the global church can teach us about worship, the surprising ways Christians express their faith across cultures, and how seeing the worldwide body of Christ at worship can challenge and enrich our own understanding of what it means to gather in Jesus’ name.Tim Challies is a pastor, noted speaker, author of numerous articles, and a pioneer in the Christian blogosphere. Tens of thousands of people visit Challies.com each day, making it one of the most widely read and recognized Christian blogs in the world. Tim is the author of several books, including Visual Theology, The Next Story, and, most recently, Pilgrim Prayers: Devotional Poems That Awaken Your Heart to the Goodness, Greatness, and Glory of God.Personal Website/Writing: https://www.ryleyheppner.comApologetics Canada: https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryleyhepp/

As the one-year anniversary of the Westminster Study Bible approaches, I am joined by one of its editors, Dr. Emerson Powery, to dive into the vision, process, and purpose behind it. What really goes into the notes, commentary, and theological decisions of a study Bible? How does a study Bible shape the way we read Scripture? And why does the Westminster Study Bible offer something distinct from the many others already available?Emerson B. Powery is Professor of Biblical Studies at Messiah College. He is the coeditor of True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary and the author of Jesus Reads Scripture: The Function of Jesus’ Use of Scripture in the Synoptic Gospels and Mark in the Immersion Bible Studies series. Powery also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Biblical Literature and the Common English Bible.Personal Website/Writing: https://www.ryleyheppner.comApologetics Canada: https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryleyhepp/

Louis Markos, a professor at Houston Christian University and author of works connecting classical philosophy to Christianity, discusses how Aristotelian thought shapes Christian beliefs. He explores why Aristotle remains relevant and how philosophy can deepen faith. Highlighting Aristotle's concepts of purpose and essence, he connects them to Christian doctrines and reflects on their influence in early Christianity. Markos also delves into the ethical implications of virtue and the importance of reclaiming philosophical dialogue within the church today.

The most important question you will ever answer is this: Who is Jesus? In Acts 17, Paul reasoned with people from the Scriptures, showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again—and that Jesus fulfilled those promises. His simple argument was this: 1)The Scriptures foretold a suffering and risen Messiah 2) Jesus died and rose again. Therefore, Jesus is the Messiah—the risen King.This same question and argument confront us today. Did He rise? If so, then Jesus is who He claimed to be—and that changes everything!https://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

Historical context can bring incredible weight to the Bible. Take Revelation 1:9 as an example. John wasn’t just casually writing from an island; he was exiled to Patmos, a place reserved for Rome’s most serious criminalshttps://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

What is the church and why does it still matter? In this episode I chat with Dr. Guy Waters to explore the beautiful biblical doctrine of the church. Drawing from his book One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, we discuss the church’s identity, its purpose, and its essential role in the Christian life.Guy Waters is the James M. Baird Jr. Professor of New Testament and the academic dean of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MI, where he has taught since 2007. He also serves as an associate editor of the Reformed Exegetical and Theological Commentary on Scripture.https://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

Biblical scholars Doug Huffman and Paul Gondreau join for me a conversation to explore the historical, theological, and interpretive dimensions of The Chosen. Drawing from their new book "Watching The Chosen: History, Faith, and Interpretation," we discuss how the series portrays Jesus and His followers, where it aligns with the biblical text, where it takes creative liberties, and how viewers can engage with it thoughtfully.Dr. Douglas S. Huffman, the evangelical biblical consultant for the television series The Chosen, is Professor of New Testament and Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University) in California.Paul Gondreau is a professor of theology at Providence College. He teaches and publishes in the area of moral theology with an emphasis on marriage, Christology, and sacraments, with a specialization in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. He is also an associate editor of the journal Nova et Vetera and a contributor to Inseparable: Five Perspectives on Sex, Life, and Love in Defense of Humanae Vitae.https://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

Did Jesus ever claim to be God? In John 8:58, Jesus declares, “Before Abraham was, I am.” and his audience responds by picking up stones to execute Him for blasphemy. https://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

I wonder what the impact would be if this week, everywhere you normally would take your phone, you took your Bible instead, or also? And then, what if every time you wanted to pick up your phone to scroll this week, you picked up your Bible instead and read it?

Seven years of lead pastoring and I have now resigned. I don't know what is next, but if it is pastoring again, there are some things I would do differently and a few things I'd do the same.https://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/