The Ryley Heppner Podcast

It is easy to think that the gospel will reach the ends of the earth without me. A pastor will do the job, or a missionary, or just somehow God will accomplish it without me having to go. But is that a biblical view of the mission of Jesus and what He calls us to? The question asked in this sermon is simply this, how does the Gospel reach far away places? How will the kingdom of God advance to the edges of the earth?

We are tempted as Christians to at times believe that deeper study will lead to a heady and withered faith. I am convinced that the exact opposite is true. That in fact deeper study, when it is saturated with Christ, will lead us into the most thrilling faith we have ever known.

Three takeaways from Paul's testimony/defense before the rulers.

As both a pastor of a church and a blood bought member of the church I find myself continually living with this tension, that I love where the church is at and I know that there is more. In this first episode of who knows how many episodes, Ben and I begin an ongoing conversation around this tension. We have no real plan or destination in mind, except to start the conversation and to (God willingly) find more biblical clarity, a greater vision for the future, and a deeper love for His Bride along the way.

I was joined today by Dr. T. Desmond Alexander from Union Theological College to chat about, among other things, some of the common mistakes people make in reading the Old Testament, the importance of the Old Testament for understanding the New Testament, and the keys to understanding and interpreting the book of Exodus. Dr. T  Desmond Alexander (PhD, The Queen’s University of Belfast) is senior lecturer in biblical studies and director of postgraduate studies at Union Theological College in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and an elder at Fitzroy Presbyterian Church. Alexander has written many volumes in the area of biblical theology, notably The City of God and the Goal of Creation: An Introduction to the Biblical Theology of the City of God and The Message of the Kingdom of God. T. D. is married to Anne, and they have two adult children.

In this conversation I am joined by Dr. Craig Ott to discuss topics ranging from the need for scholarship in missions, to the parallels between contextualization and Settlers of Catan, to the effects of the increase in short term mission trips. Dr. Ott is professor of mission and intercultural studies, and chair of the mission and evangelism department at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, USA). Prior to going to Trinity in 2002 he served for 21 years in Germany planting four reproducing churches and teaching at the Academy for World Mission. During that time he also served as Central Europe church planting consultant with ReachGlobal. He has since ministered in over forty countries on five continents and coauthored or co-edited several books including Encountering Theology of Mission and Global Church Planting.

Mark's gospel ends abruptly, as if to say to the reader, "Now you finish the story." So how will we respond to the evidence of the resurrection that Mark presents? Like the 3 women, in fear and silence? Or with faith that declares through the radical lives that we live, "He has risen from the grave."

If you are ever a prisoner, what kind of prisoner will you be? I think it really depends upon this question: What kind of person/citizen are you now?

In this episode I chat with Dan Kreiss and Efrem Smith about their (bound to be impactful) new book, Church For Everyone: Building Multi-Inclusive Community For Emerging Generations. Among other things, Kreiss and Smith unpack for me what multi-inclusiveness truly is, how rooted it is in Scripture, why it can be so difficult and how it is ultimately fostered. As you listen I hope you are both encouraged and challenged. And after you are done I hope you do yourself a favour and go get a copy of this one! Dan Kreiss (DMin, George Fox University) is the associate minister for mission and community outreach at Roswell Presbyterian Church in the greater Atlanta area. He was previously professor of youth ministry and dean of the School of Missions at King University in Bristol, Tennessee. Efrem Smith (DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a pastor, consultant, speaker, and author. He is passionate about life transformation, multiethnic development, faithful and fruitful churches, and community development. He is the author of Raising Up Young Heroes, The Hip Hop Church, Jump, The Post-Black and Post-White Church, and Killing Us Softly.

Is there radical Christianity and non radical Christianity? Or is there just Christianity, and it is always radical?