Church
Unbelievable? My bipolar experience: Can Christianity offer a better approach to depression?
Author and academic James Mumford recently wrote an article for The New Atlantis magazine about his experience undergoing therapy at a clinic for bipolar disorder and his concerns about its value neutral approach. He engages with psychologist Roger Bretherton, creator of The Character Course, on what role faith can play for those struggling with depression.
Ask NT Wright Anything #130 Do I need to tithe? Church rules, covenants and leadership
Should I always tithe 10% to my church? What do you think of signing church covenants? I don’t agree with my church leadership on complementarianism, but I love the members - should I stay? Tom answers listener questions on church practise and rules.
Unapologetic #14 Derwin L Gray: How should Christians think about CRT, Black Lives Matter and ‘white privilege’?
Phrases such as Critical Race Theory, Black Lives Matter, ‘antiracism’ and ‘white privilege’ have become polarising issues in Christian circles. Derwin L Gray shares what he thinks Christians need to understand about racism and the controversy surrounding these terms.
When Jesus becomes a trigger word in Woke theology
Is language violence? Are anecdotes replacing facts? Erik Strandess reviews a recent debate on the limits of ‘woke theology’.
Unapologetic #12 Derwin L Gray: How an NFL footballer found faith in Jesus
Derwin L Gray is a former NFL football player who, along with his wife Vicki, founded Transformation Church - a ‘multicultural, multi-generational, mission-shaped’ church in South Carolina.
Philip Yancey live Q&A on faith, doubt and the future of the US church
Prolific Christian author Philip Yancey joined Justin and several hundred guests for a live Q&A on his life, work and faith. They talk about his recently published memoir ‘Where The Light Fell’ and his new paraphrase of John Donne’s writing ‘A Companion in Crisis’, as well as taking questions on suffering, prayer, the Ukraine and the future of the US evangelical church.
Ask NT Wright Anything #66 A conversation with Douglas Murray on identity, myth and miracles
A special edition of the show in which Tom Wright sits down with noted cultural critic Douglas Murray to discuss Douglas’ own journey in and out of faith, the church and culture, and whether Christianity can makes sense of a post-Christian world. Originally aired as part of The Big Conversation ...
Ask NT Wright Anything #31 Jean Vanier and when leaders let us down
In the wake of the news that L’Arche founder Jean Vanier was responsible for sexual abuse of women during his ministry, Tom Wright respond to questions from listeners let down by leaders and the church.
Ask NT Wright Anything #50 Icons, praying to saints & dividing over sexuality
Tom answers listener questions around whether shrines are pagan, infant baptism is biblical and how we can live in unity with theological differences around sexuality.
Ask NT Wright Anything #47 Should women preach and lead in church? What about marriage?
Tom answers listener questions around gender, women in leadership and the dynamics of family life.
Ask NT Wright Anything #45 Worship in the age of Covid-19
Tom answers listener questions on how the church will be changed by Coronavirus, online communion and the challenges of worshipping in a socially-distanced way.
Ask NT Wright Anything #56 Fasting, resting and worship
Is fasting a practice that Christians should take up? How does Tom balance work and rest? Has Sunday worship become just a musical event? Tom answers listener questions on Christian practices.
Ask NT Wright Anything #57 The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches
Tom responds to questions on why the Roman Catholic bible includes more books than Protestant versions, what he makes of the Eastern Orthodox tradition and a listener who is thinking of ‘crossing the Tiber’.
Ask NT Wright Anything #82 Disappointed by church
Tom comments on the Jonathan Fletcher scandal and answers questions from people disappointed by their church response to Covid and a new Christian who has struggled to find a welcome.
Is there a future for godless congregations? Paul VanderKlay and James Croft
Humanist leader James Croft leads a thriving godless congregation in an otherwise declining network of Ethical Societies. Does their story mirror that of many declining churches in the west?
If the tomb is empty: Joby Martin on sponsoring 14,000 Compassion kids
Pastor Joby Martin, pastor of The Church of Eleven22 and author of ‘If The Tomb is Empty’ tells Justin the story of how the church has sponsored over 14,000 children through Compassion.
Can a doubter find a place in church? Preston Ulmer and Gaia McDermott
Preston Ulmer author of ‘The Doubters Club’ and ex-Christian Gaia McDermott who hosts the ‘Face The Sun’ podcast, discuss how to explore doubt and questions inside and outside the church.
Should ’Gay Conversion Therapy’ be banned? Jayne Ozanne vs Peter Lynas
The UK Government has published proposals to ban ‘gay conversion therapy’.
Unbelievable? Is toxic masculinity a problem in the church? Kyle Thompson and Martin Saunders
Kyle Thompson of men's ministry Undaunted Life says we need to champion biblical masculinity in a church that is too feminised. Martin Saunders, author of 'The Man You Were Made To Be' says we need to leave behind gender stereotypes and help young Christian men make sense of masculinity in ...
Unbelievable? CRT and Woke Christianity - Owen Strachan vs Jermaine Marshall
Is the church too woke or just broke?
Unbelievable? Should we rethink worship in a Covid age? Tim Hughes, Lucy Brierley, Muyiwa Olarewaju and Graham Nicholls
The pandemic has changed the way churches deliver worship online and in person. Justin is joined by church and worship leaders Tim Hughes, Muyiwa Olarewaju, Lucy Brierley & Graham Nicholls, to talk about lessons learned and what the future may look like. Originally broadcast as part of Spring Harvest 2021: ...
Unbelievable? Richmond Wandera – Christianity, witchcraft and the prosperity gospel in Uganda
Richmond Wandera, a pastor in Kampala, Uganda and listener of Unbelievable? talks to Justin about the history of Christian revival in Africa, elections and Covid in Uganda, witchcraft, secularism and the problem of the prosperity gospel in churches. He also share his story of coming from the slums of Kampala ...
Coronavirus-spreading churches: Bad theology has tragic consequences
Pete Phillips explains why being a Christian does not mean magical exemption from the consequences of a fallen world.
Unbelievable? Coronavirus: How will it change the church and the world? AJ Roberts, Mark Sayers and mystery guest
In a special edition of the show, recorded from home, Justin looks at the present Coronavirus crisis, how the pandemic will change global society and how the church can respond.
Are science and theology in conflict with same-sex relationships?
Erik Strandness responds to a recent debate between ‘Side A and B’ gay Christians
What has Christianity ever done for us?
That was the challenge levelled at historian Tom Holland on The Big Conversation by AC Grayling, one of Britain’s leading atheist philosophers. The answer, it turns out is: quite a lot
What has Christianity ever done for us?
That was the challenge levelled at historian Tom Holland by AC Grayling, one of Britain’s leading atheist philosophers. The answer, it turns out is: quite a lot
Don’t preach to the choir. Church services can reach sceptics too
Pastors and preachers need to speak not only to the faithful but those who are seeking, questioning and sceptical. Ahead of Unbelievable? the Conference 2019, Justin Brierley offers advice.
Ask NT Wright Anything #14 The Church, worship and unity
Do you have to go to church to be a Christian? What should our theology of worship be? How do we know we are in the ‘correct’ denomination? Tom Wright answers these and more questions from listeners, and chats with host Justin about Christian unity.
Ask NT Wright Anything #7 Bible infallibility, Sola Scriptura and slavery
How should we treat the Bible? Inerrant? Infallible? Does it contain errors? Tom answers questions on the nature of the Bible as well as related issues such as whether the Reformers were right to concentrate solely on scripture rather than church tradition, and whether there is a ‘trajectory hermeneutic’ when it comes to issues like slavery in the Bible.
Ask NT Wright Anything #6 Female church leadership, complementarity and marriage
Tom answers questions on what the New Testament says about the role of women in church leadership. Does 1 Tim 2:13-15 forbid women from preaching? What does he make of complementarian vs egalitarian theology? How does he treat passages such as Ephesians 5: 22 ‘wives submit to your husband’?
Justin Welby • Thy Kingdom Come, tongues, Brexit, LGBT and church unity
Justin Welby the Archbishop of Canterbury speaks to Premier’s Justin Brierley about the evangelism and prayer initiative Thy Kingdom Come, praying in tongues, Brexit, politics, being the leader of the Anglican Church, and how he deals with controversy surrounding LGBT issues.
14 things you (probably) didn't know about Christianity, but really should
Nobody gets to heaven by being good, faith is not a blind leap and there’s much more evidence than you think. Andrew Haslam clears up these and other common misconceptions about Christianity
10 questions to ask a Mormon
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830. While they claim to be the restoration of the original church, Christians consider them to be outside of the faith because they deny the divinity of Christ and the trinity. Here, Michael Thomas suggests how Christians can engage with the members of this church, who are commonly referred to as Mormons
Question the doctrine of hell at your peril. It could tear your church apart
Sam Hailes analyses the media’s recent focus on four Christian leaders who have questioned the traditional doctrine of hell
I visited six US megachurches. Here's what I learned
Justin Brierley travelled the length and breadth of the USA to go behind the scenes of some of the country’s biggest churches
Our young people aren’t talking about God. Here's what the Church should do
New research suggests the Church needs to develop a new kind of apologetics in order to reach 16-19 year olds
Worried about your children falling away from faith? Take them on a mission trip
Our children need to have a living and active faith. Sunday school and Bible study isn’t enough, says Emma Fowle
Steve Chalke's rethink of the Bible isn't just wrong, it's anti-Christ
Church leader Steve Chalke has begun a series of videos re-framing the Bible. Revd David Robertson responds with this opinion piece.
Why it is high-time the Church learns to fully embrace the internet
Rev Jim Keat believes that the internet is changing the way that we do Church – and that’s a good thing
Ravi Zacharias allegations: 3 ways Christians should respond
Is Ravi Zacharias the latest Christian celebrity to fall? David Robertson looks at the accusations
My friend the… atheist churchgoer
Joe Ogborn explains how going to church with his atheist friend Tom has shaped his own faith
Why Martin Luther's home church must remove its antisemitic statue
As Christians mark 499 years since The Reformation, Dr. Richard Harvey says the removal of an antisemitic statue from the outside of Martin Luther’s church is long overdue
From zealous atheist to Christian scholar
Dr Michael Bird used to mock the Church, but now he lectures in theology and defends Christianity. Joel Furches explains what happened
How the UK Church can prepare for real revival
J John explains what authentic revival looks like and explains how Christians can get ready for it
5 ways to reach poorer communities with the gospel
In February, the Bishop of Burnley accused the Church of England of not investing enough money in poorer areas. Pastor of Ignite Elim Church Darren Edwards assesses the claim that the Church only cares about the rich, and suggests five ways for Christians to better reach poorer communities
10 reasons why Christians should thank Richard Dawkins
Christians are often upset by Richard Dawkins. But Heather Tomlinson believes we also have many reasons to thank the controversial atheist
3 things that keep men out of the Church
Daniel Rodger converted from atheism to Christianity in his early 20s. He identifies three reasons why young men think they don’t need God
Church attendance is declining. Here's what should we do about it
Dr Ian Paul analyses the latest Church of England attendance figures and argues the Church will grow when it stands out from society, rather than blends in
Rahil Patel: From Hindu priest to peace-filled Christian
Rahil Patel decided to become a Hindu priest. But inner peace eluded him – until he walked into a church
Bethel Church: Heaven on Earth?
California’s most prominent charismatic church, led by Bill Johnson, divides opinion. Andy Peck finds out why some believe Bethel is seeing heaven come to earth, and others claim that it’s a deception
I attended an online church, here’s what happened
Everyday Church, a London based UK church has launched an experimental ‘online congregation’. Could this be the future? Sam Hailes logged on to see what church in the digital age might look like
Tim Keller: How I prepare my sermons
Tim Keller is the bestselling author of The Reason for God and founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. We asked how he prepares his sermons
My Sunday morning guilty secret
As the government urges Church of England bishops to back plans to relax Sunday trading laws, Premier Christianity’s senior editor Justin Brierley wonders whether the Church should be rethinking Sundays altogether.
Not Dead Yet: How two Anglican churches came back to life
The statistics tell us that St Peter’s Brighton and St Swithun’s Bournemouth should be carpet warehouses or gastropubs by now. Justin Brierley finds out why they are welcoming hundreds of parishioners through their doors again
Nicky Gumbel and the evangelisation of the nation
According to its leader, Rev Nicky Gumbel, Holy Trinity Brompton’s planting strategy is part of a ‘hidden revival’ in the UK Church. Justin Brierley finds out more.
The Christian: Why I left the Mormon Church to follow Jesus
Lynn K Wilder served in the Mormon Temple and as an LDS professor in Utah. She explains what convinced her to leave.
Caravaggio’s Calling and the art of evangelism
Archbishop Justin Welby reflects on what we can learn about sharing our faith from Caravaggio’s painting The Calling of Saint Matthew.
From witchcraft to Christ
From birth, David Ole Kereto’s life was marked out. He was to become a witch doctor, like his father, but God intervened.
Steve Chalke and Ed Shaw ∕∕ Is church silence failing gay Christians?
Steve Chalke of Oasis Trust explains why he believes evangelical churches need to start a conversation on changing their theology on homosexuality to avoid tragic consequences for young, gay Christians.
Ed Shaw of Living Out is a same-sex attracted Christian whose Biblical convictions have led him to remain celibate. He says evangelical churches needs to talk about homosexuality but shouldn’t change their theology.What my 45 minutes with Mark Driscoll told me about him
Following Mark Driscoll’s resignation from Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Justin Brierley reflects on the lessons he learned from an interview with the megachurch pastor, which went viral.
3 Same-Sex Attracted Church leaders speak out - Unbelievable?
A special radio feature titled “A Different Kind of Coming Out” sees Justin meet three evangelical church leaders who talk about their struggle with same-sex attraction and why they’ve decided to choose celibacy, or being ‘post-gay’.
Amy Orr-Ewing on why the Church needs working women
“My husband was once offered a job working in a leadership role for a church on the condition that I gave up my job”
The atheist church - Sanderson Jones & David Robertson - Unbelievable?
In Jan 2013 a new church began in London - with singing, a sermon and a great sense of community - but its for godless people. Atheist stand up comedian Sanderson Jones who co-founded “the Sunday Assembly” talks about its first meeting and why it exists.
Unbelievable? 9 Jul 2011 - Grill a Christian round 4
Scottish pastor and apologist David Robertson returns for a show interacting with three UK atheist listeners of the show.
Unbelievable? 14 May 2011 - Should women be church leaders?
In 1995 the Church of England allowed the ordination of Women priests. But the question of whether the Bible forbids female authority in the church remains.
Unbelievable? 11 Sep 2010 - Is the Catholic church a force for good or evil?
With the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the UK, some are protesting that his visit should not be sponsored by the State. They say that the Catholic church is a force for bad in the light of its record on human rights, child abuse and past persecution.
Unbelievable? 5 Jun 2010 - Homosexuality and the church
In response to listener requests Justin hosts two shows dealing with Homosexuality and Christian faith.
Unbelievable? 15 May 2010 - Peter Hitchens "The Rage Against God"
Peter Hitchens is a writer and regular columnist for the Mail on Sunday. Unlike his atheist brother Christopher, Peter is a committed Christian having himself been an atheist in younger years.
Unbelievable? 17 Jan 2009 "How did Christianity begin?" Part 1
On this week’s show (17 Jan 09) two New Testament scholars go head to head. Michael Bird is a believer, James Crossley is not. They have different conclusions about how the Christian faith began and have written a dialogue in their new book “How Did Christianity Begin - a believer ...
Unbelievable? 16 Aug 2008 Disappointment with Church
Jonathan Castro runs an anti-church website. He believes in Christianity but says he has never felt like he has connected with God, and certainly not in church. Find out if Pastor Nigel Desborough of Forest Hill Community Church has any words of help for him.
Unbelievable? 24 Nov 2007 - The atheist who sold his soul on ebay
Atheist Hemant Mehta offered to go to church for the highest bidder on eBay. In the end he visited 15 churches, large and small, and wrote about his experiences for good and bad. Tom Price of the Damaris Trust chats with Hemant about his view of churches and faith.
Unbelievable? 22 Sep 2007 - The Alpha Course
As a new “term” of Alpha begins, Justin is joined by Mark Elsdon-Dew, Communications Director for Alpha. They discuss the success of the course in introducing people to the Christian faith, and how churches can run it effectively. With contributions from Jamie Hinde and Jerry Field, who both converted through ...
Unbelievable? 15 Sep 2007 - Yoga and Christianity
Two Christian ministers in Taunton made the news recently when they refused a Yoga instructor the use of their church halls. Some have labelled their actions narrow-minded and intolerant. We discuss whether it’s ok for Christians to be involved with Yoga.
Unbelievable? 18 Aug 2007 - Atheist & Christian bloggers discuss
Ian Thorpe is an atheist and Jenni Hutchinson a Christian. They got chatting about faith after bumping into each other on the internet. They discuss whether the church is having a beneficial effect on society, Ian’s concerns over “fundamentalism” and whether you need to believe in God to be good.
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