The Ryley Heppner Podcast

A promise that no one else can make, but God; if you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him. https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

In this episode, Brett McCracken joins me to talk about his new book Scrolling Ourselves to Death and the spiritual toll of living in a world of endless scrolling, constant noise, and digital distraction. Brett offers insight into Neil Postman’s prophetic warnings, the dangers of dopamine-driven media, and how the church can resist the tide with a vision of embodied, thoughtful discipleship in the digital age. Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communications at The Gospel Coalition. He is the coeditor of Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age and the author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World, Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community and several other books. Brett and his wife, Kira, live in Santa Ana, California, with their three children. They belong to Southlands Santa Ana. https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

I’m now officially a speaker for Apologetics Canada! https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

What do ancient manuscripts found in desert caves have to do with the Bible in your hands today? In this episode, Dr. Andrew Perrin—author of Lost Words and Forgotten Worlds—joins us to unpack the strange, surprising, and deeply relevant world of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We talk lost texts, wild apocalyptic imagination, messianic hopes before Jesus, and why these 2,000-year-old documents still matter for Christian faith, biblical interpretation, and how we read Scripture today. Dr. Andrew B. Perrin is a scholar of Second Temple Judaism and the Dead Sea Scrolls. His research explores ancient Jewish texts, biblical interpretation, and the transmission of Scripture. Dr. Perrin’s research has included multiple graduate scholarships and grants from the SSHRC, the George A. Barton Fellowship at the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem, and the Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise from the University of Heidelberg for his monograph on dream revelation in the book of Daniel and beyond. https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

Are the Gospels historically reliable? In this episode, I sit down with renowned New Testament scholar Craig Keener to discuss his book Christobiography: Memory, History, and the Reliability of the Gospels. We explore how the Gospels fit within the genre of ancient biography (bios), what that means for their historical accuracy, and how eyewitness testimony shaped the accounts of Jesus' life. Keener also addresses common objections about memory, oral tradition, and historical reliability, offering insights that challenge both skeptics and believers. Craig S. Keener (Ph.D., Duke University) is F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is author of 37 books, 5 of which have won awards in Christianity Today. More than a million copies of his books are in circulation; the most popular is The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, which provides cultural background on each passage of the New Testament. Craig is also the New Testament editor for the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, which won the International Book Award for Christianity and Bible of the year in the Christian Book Awards. Craig is editor of the Bulletin for Biblical Research and is past president of the Evangelical Theological Society. Craig's wife, Dr. Médine Moussounga Keener, was a refugee in her home country of Congo; their story appears in Impossible Love: The True Story of an African Civil War, Miracles, and Hope against All Odds (Chosen, 2016). https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

What is the heart of Paul’s message in Galatians, and why does it still matter today? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner to explore the powerful themes of his book, Christ Crucified: A Theology of Galatians. We discuss justification by faith, the role of the law, Christian freedom, and the centrality of the cross in one of Paul’s most urgent and passionate letters. Dr. Tom Schreiner is an Associate Dean for the School of Theology and the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Professor of Biblical Theology. Prior to joining Southern, he taught New Testament at Azusa Pacific University. He also taught at Bethel Theological Seminary for 11 years. Schreiner is a Pauline scholar who has written extensively on this subject. He is married to Diane and they have four children. Schreiner is a member of Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://www.instagram.com/ryleyheppner/ For all collaboration requests (speaking, advertising, etc.) go to: https://www.ryleyheppner.com/collaboration

Joshua Porter has lived a life of raw creativity and radical faith. From fronting a beautifully chaotic band to becoming an author, filmmaker, and pastor, his journey has been anything but conventional. In this episode, we dive into his unexpected path—exploring music, storytelling, and the intersection of art and faith. Joshua S. Porter is pastor of teaching and creative vision at Van City Church in Vancouver, Washington. He is also a former member of the experimental art-punk band, Showbread, and the author of With All Its Teeth, Death to Deconstruction, novel Punk Rock Vs. More. His upcoming book is entitled How to Die: A Spiritual Odyssey through Christian Discipleship.  https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://www.instagram.com/ryleyheppner/ For all collaboration requests (speaking, advertising, etc.) go to: https://www.ryleyheppner.com/collaboration

In this episode, I talk with wakeboarding legend Shaun Murray about the role of faith in his life and career. We discuss what it means to trust God through the ups and downs of professional sports, how his faith has shaped his perspective on success and identity, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Shaun shares how he stays grounded, what keeps him passionate about coaching and mentoring others, and why his relationship with Christ is at the center of it all. Whether you are into wakeboarding or just interested in the intersection of faith and perseverance, this is a conversation worth hearing! Shaun Murray is a four-time world champion wakeboarder. His wakeboarding career started in 1995 and was full of innovation and accomplishment, including many pro tour and world championship titles. Murray invented several wakeboard tricks, including the Bel Air, Tweety Bird, Square Raley, Crook, Crow 5, Heelside frontside and more. He promoted his own "Backyard Tour" with pro rider and friend Gerry Nunn; has been featured in many wakeboard movies, magazine and television pieces; created his own wakeboard instructional series entitled "Detention;" and was the star of his own video game, Wakeboarding Unleashed. In the summer of 2004, Murray dislocated his knee while riding. He tore his ACL, PCL, and MCL. After reconstructive surgery he was told he might not ride again. But, just months later he was back riding. He helped develop signature products that include boats, wakeboards, life jackets, wet suits and clothing lines. Murray was the first wakeboarder to land a 900 (Regular Heelside) in a competition, and he is the only rider ever to hold World, Pro Tour and National Championship titles at once. https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://www.instagram.com/ryleyheppner/ For all collaboration requests (speaking, advertising, etc.) go to: https://www.ryleyheppner.com/collaboration

Matthew’s Gospel is more than just a historical account—it’s a masterpiece of theology, fulfillment, and discipleship. In this episode, I sit down with New Testament professor Charles Quarles to explore the depth, structure, and significance of The Gospel According to Matthew, and to talk about his new Matthew commentary in the Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary series. Charles Quarles is an experienced pastor, missionary, and theological educator. He served as Senior Pastor of three churches in North Mississippi and East Tennessee for over ten years. He served as a missionary of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in Bucharest Romania from 1999 to 2002. He has served as a professor of New Testament and Greek at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, the Bucharest Baptist Theological Seminary, the University of Bucharest, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Louisiana College (now Louisiana Christian University). Turkey, and Cuba. He is the editor or author of a dozen books including The Sermon on the Mount: Restoring Christ’s Message to the Modern Church; The Illustrated Life of Paul; A Theology of Matthew; Matthew in the Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament series; and Matthew in the Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary series. https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://www.instagram.com/ryleyheppner/ For all collaboration requests (speaking, advertising, etc.) go to: https://www.ryleyheppner.com/collaboration

In this episode, I sit down with renowned biblical scholar Beverly Gaventa to discuss her latest work, a groundbreaking commentary on Paul's letter to the Romans. We explore the rich theology of Romans, focusing on its central themes of grace, righteousness, and the transformative power of the Gospel. Beverly shares her insights on how this letter speaks to the church today, the challenges of interpreting Paul’s complex arguments, and what makes Romans a timeless theological masterpiece.  Dr. Beverly Roberts Gaventa is Distinguished Professor of Religion in Baylor University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She is a graduate of Phillips University (BA), Union Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Duke University (PhD). Dr. Gaventa is one of the leading New Testament scholars in the world who engage in theological and historical interpretation of the Christian Scriptures, particularly the letters of Paul, and has lectured on university and seminary campuses around the world. The author or editor of 14 books, including Our Mother Saint Paul and When in Romans, she also has published more than 70 articles and essays and is currently writing a commentary on Paul’s Epistle to the Romans for the New Testament Library Series. https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://www.instagram.com/ryleyheppner/ For all collaboration requests (speaking, advertising, etc.) go to: https://www.ryleyheppner.com/collaboration