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God‘s story is the story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. But it‘s also humanity‘s story, the story of a world fallen and blown apart and of a world reshaped and restored. It‘s the beginning of all beginnings and the end of all ends. Join Brent Siddall and the Rev Ian ‘Reido‘ Reid as they explore God, time, salvation and the cosmos. Explore the stories of Western culture as they pivot and interact with the main narrative of salvation history.
Episodes
23 minutes ago
23 minutes ago
‘With the rise of online platforms, including social media and video conferencing tools, the concept of a physical church space is being redefined. The virtual world is now an extension of our physical reality, blurring the lines between what is considered ‘real’ and what is not’.
Brent talks with Michael Huerter the author of a new IVP book called ‘Hybrid Congregation: A Practical Theology of Worship for an Online Era’.
Michael is a pastor at Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City Missouri, where he leads worship and works to build community and connection. As a lifelong church musician and digital native, he’s interested in engaging with and contributing to scholarship that bridges the gap between research and practical ministry.
- (1:00) Society re-shaped;
- (2:45) The church online is here to stay?
- (4:00) What is hybrid worship?
- (5:30) Real connection;
- (7:55) God and technology;
- (9:15) The metaverse?
- (12:50) Church music and a virtual environment;
- (14:45) The virtual and the real;
- (16:40) Avatars;
- (18:40) Hybrid living;
- (19:30) Podcasting.
Links mentioned in this episode:
www.amazon.com/Hybrid-Congregation-Practical-Theology-Worship/dp/1514011425
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Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.
4 days ago
4 days ago
‘Fatherhood is a sacred calling – but it doesn’t come with a manual – until now’.
Brent talks with Jeff Hamilton the author of ‘Dad Academy: Raising Courageous, Capable, Confident Kids’.
Jeff is a pastor, coach and consultant. The role he loves the most is as a husband to Jayme, and dad to his adult kids, daughter Jordanne, son Justin and daughter in law Savannah. The Hamilton’s have had the privilege of serving families for over 35 years in pastoral ministry. He’s a frequent guest on podcasts and speaks at men’s gatherings and marriage retreats.
- (0:55) What is Dad Academy?
- (3:55) Jeff’s own experience of fatherhood;
- (5:45) What makes a good Dad?
- (7:20) Values;
- (13:15) Cultivating character;
- (15:40) Emotional intelligence;
- (19:00) Rituals;
- (25:20) Developing courage;
- (29:00) Greatness.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.
7 days ago
7 days ago
How is time used in the Song of Solomon?
Brent and Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute continue their discussion.
- (0:20) vs 1-5;
- (1:35) The bride;
- (3:00) Time;
- (6:25) Dream states;
- (8:20) Why does the bride wander the streets?
- (9:40) The mother’s house in v 4;
- (12:40) vs 6-11;
- (15:30) The Lord and His bride;
- (19:15) Exodus themes;
- (20:15) Solomon’s coronation;
- (22:00) Christ;
- (24:10) Marriage.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
How is lovesickness a theme in the Song of Solomon?
Brent talks with Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States.
- (0:30) v 1-7;
- (1:10) The rose and the lily;
- (3:00) Sexual imagery;
- (6:00) v 2-3;
- (7:30) The tree;
- (11:40) Love in v 4;
- (13:05) Wine;
- (16:00) The banner in v 4;
- (17:10) Lovesickness in v 5;
- (18:10) The 2 lovers and time;
- (20:20) vs 8-17;
- (22:00) Exodus imagery;
- (24:00) The foxes;
- (24:50) vs 8-17 and the meaning of the Song.
Links mentioned in this episode:
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Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.
Saturday Sep 06, 2025
Saturday Sep 06, 2025
Who was the historical Joseph Smith?
Brent talks with Tom Hobson about his book from Elm Hill ‘The Historical Jesus and the Historical Joseph Smith’.
Tom is retired from more than 40 years as a Presbyterian minister, four years as professor of biblical studies and languages at Morthland College, and two years of the radio program ‘Biblical Words and World’ on KUTR-AM, Salt Lake City. He’s written books and many articles.
- (2:10) The historical Jesus;
- (4:00) The 5 criteria;
- (5:50) Jesus is God;
- (7:50) The Resurrection;
- (11:15) Joseph Smith;
- (13:25) Joseph and the 5 criteria;
- (16:20) The word of wisdom;
- (17:30) Joseph and marriage;
- (20:20) Smith’s changing view of God;
- (21:45) Smith and pre-existence;
- (23:10) Joseph Smith and the Bible;
- (25:40) Joseph – a martyr?
Links mentioned in this episode:
www.historicaljoseph.org/tom_hobson
Leave some feedback:
What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments.
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If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude.
Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.
Friday Sep 05, 2025
Friday Sep 05, 2025
What’s a truly biblical view of singleness?
Brent talks with Dani Treweek, the author of a new book from the Good Book Company called ‘Single Ever After: A Biblical Vision for the Significance of Singleness’.
Dani is the founding director of the Single Minded Ministry; she works part time as the Sydney Anglican Diocesan Research Officer and she spends the rest of her time writing, reading, speaking and training on singleness, sexuality, church community and more. She’s the author of ‘The Meaning of Singleness’ which was Australian Christian Book of the Year in 2024.
- (0:50) Dani’s own journey;
- (2:30) Singleness good;
- (4:30) Single ever after?
- (6:00) Single people specialists in depicting eternity?
- (7:30) Scriptural evidence – Genesis 2;
- (11:35) Paul and 1 Corinthians 7;
- (17:30) Singleness prior to the Reformation;
- (18:30) Luther;
- (22:00) Advice to single people.
Links mentioned in this episode:
amazon.com/Single-Ever-After-Significance-Perspective
Leave some feedback:
What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review.
Connect with us:
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If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude.
Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes. https://liquidedge.co.nz/
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
What’s the significance of the dark wood?
Brent and Jennifer Holberg continue their discussion of Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ with a look at ‘Inferno’.
Jennifer is professor and chair of the English Department at Calvin University in the States and co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith and Writing. She’s also the author of the book ‘Nourishing Narratives’.
- (2:00) The narrator and the opening;
- (4:10) The dark wood;
- (5:00) Epic;
- (6:30) The 3 beasts;
- (8:45) Virgil;
- (11:30) Canto 9;
- (13:10) Beatrice;
- (17:10) The structure of Hell;
- (21:45) Sin;
- (23:10) Dante’s sin issue;
- (26:40) Some of the famous sinners; popes in Hell;
- (30:10) Moments of hope.
Links mentioned in this episode:
World of Dante:
https://www.worldofdante.org/index.html)
Digital Dante:
https://digitaldante.columbia.edu/dante/divine-comedy
Dante Worlds:
https://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/
100 Days of Dante:
Editions:
For all in one volume:
Mark Musa, ‘The Portable Dante’ (Penguin)
First rate notes:
Robert and Jean Hollander (Vintage/Anchor)
New poetic translation that retains the terza rima:
Michael Palma (Liveright)
Prose translation:
Charles S. Singleton (Princeton University Press)
Other notable translators:
Robin Kirkpatrick
John Ciarda
Allen Mandelbaum
Older translations by Dorothy L. Sayers
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Leave some feedback:
What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review.
Connect with us:
Become a Supporter:
If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude.
Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.
Saturday Aug 30, 2025
Saturday Aug 30, 2025
‘First century Christians faced unimaginable challenges, yet their lives overflowed with joy because of their encounter with Jesus’.
Brent talks with Jared Mitzelfelt the author of a new book from Lucid Books called ‘Marked by Joy: Discovering the Joy that Defined the First Believers’.
Jared is the Young Adults Pastor at Central Baptist Church in Round Rock, Texas.
- (0:45) Why and how did joy mark the first century Christians?
- (3:00) Pessimism in the church;
- (5:15) Joy;
- (6:40) The Bible and joy;
- (11:50) Emotions in the church;
- (13:50) Our joy ‘thieves’;
- (16:50) Joy in suffering;
- (19:40) Joy contagious.
Links mentioned in this episode:
/www.amazon.com/Marked-Joy-Discovering-Defined-Believers/dp/1632967669
Leave some feedback:
What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review.
Connect with us:
Become a Supporter:
If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude.
Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Why is common life in our society in decline?
Brent talks with Jake Meador about a new paperback edition of his IVP book ‘In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World’.
Jake is vice president of the Davenant Institute and the editor in chief of Mere Orthodoxy.
- (0:40) How has the world changed?
- (2:40) America in decline?
- (4:15) The decline of the church;
- (12:00) How has existentialism shaped the modern West?
- (17:40) Alienation from work;
- (19:00) A.I.;
- (24:55) The loss of community.
Links mentioned in this episode:
www.ivpress.com/in-search-of-the-common-good
Leave some feedback:
What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review.
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If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude.
Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Where do we turn when trauma leaves us feeling lost, ashamed, and exhausted?
Brent talks with Michael John Cusick the author of a new book from IVP called ‘Sacred Attachment: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love’.
Michael John Cusick is the CEO and founder of Restoring the Soul, an intensive counseling ministry in Denver. He’s a licensed professional counselor, spiritual director, and former assistant professor of counseling at Colorado Christian University.
- (0:58) A childhood experience;
- (4:35) Spiritual exhaustion;
- (7:10) Brokenness a bridge;
- (9:30) The 4 S’s;
- (11:10) Embodiment;
- (14:10) Experiencing God;
- (17:50) ‘The Cloud of Unknowing’.
Links mentioned in this episode:
www.amazon.com/Sacred-Attachment-Escaping-Spiritual-Exhaustion/dp/1514008319
Leave some feedback:
What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review.
Connect with us:
Become a Supporter:
If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude.
Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.