Listen to The Rooted Podcast for in-depth conversations about the Bible and how we can apply it to our lives. Join the team behind Rooted, Bible Society's devot...
Thank you to those of you who asked us your toughest Bible questions at last summer’s New Wine festival! In this episode we explore them together. From the credibility of the creation story, to whether there will be a sea in heaven; from Bezalel and Oholiab’s abilities, to whether Jesus can lie or die; from who wrote the Bible and when, to how we know when to take it literally and whether it’s possible to reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the God of the New Testament, we tackle your questions. Join us on the journey as we dive into the Scriptures, explore the issues together and share our thoughts. Please note that we don’t claim to have all the definitive answers or that we’ll get everything right. We won’t always come to complete agreement. We aim to take a humble approach because we believe that being able to ask questions and discuss them together is a healthy aspect of Christian community that can help us to grow in wisdom and understanding, faith and confidence. Timestamps(00:00) - Send us your questions
(00:50) - Is the creation story real or is it just a parable?
(07:00) - Should we read the Bible literally?
(12:09) - When was the Bible written?
(15:26) - Who wrote the Bible?
(18:09) - Will there be a sea in heaven?
(21:34) - Is there anything that Bezalel and Oholiab couldn't build?
(24:22) - What is the 'law of the Spirit' in Romans 8.2?
(26:56) - If Jesus can do anything, can he lie or die?
(30:11) - How do you reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the God of the New Testament?
Rooted:Rooted is our devotional journal that helps make the Bible available to everyone, everywhere. Every other month, you’ll receive a new 80-page journal filled with insightful devotionals, thought-provoking prompts, and lots of opportunities to reflect, journal and be creative. Sign up today to receive your first journal for free.Send us your questions!We'd love to hear from you.Submit your questionBible Society:The Rooted Podcast is brought to you by Bible Society, a Christian organisation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible. We communicate its relevance and invite people to experience the transforming power of the Scriptures in today’s world. Visit our website to find out more.Bible Society socials: FacebookInstagramX (formerly Twitter) Disclaimer: This is a Bible Society podcast, but it’s also a conversation between people exploring the Bible together. We won’t get everything right, and we won’t always agree! Please be patient with us and join us on the journey.#Parables #JesusTeaching #BibleQandA #CreationStory #Bible #ChristianPodcast
--------
35:52
Storytelling the Kingdom with Dai Woolridge – Parables E6
How can storytelling help us communicate the reality and relevance of the Kingdom of God today? For this episode we're joined by spoken word artist, Dai Woolridge. He shares the creative inspiration behind the Parables Edition of the Rooted Journal and the significance of storytelling in sharing our faith.The conversation dives into the well-known parables of the good Samaritan and the prodigal son. How can we truly love others in the way God commands? Are there personal or societal biases we need to confront? How do we experience, and extend to others, God’s invitation to receive forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance? To finish, Dai gives a special performance of his spoken word poem, ‘Prodigal Son’!Timestamps(00:00) - The inspiration behind the Parables Edition of Rooted
(02:40) - Dai Woolridge and spoken word
(07:15) - Unpacking the parable of the good Samaritan
(13:00) - When should loving our neighbour supersede other concerns?
(16:00) - The power of story
(20:15) - Who is your neighbour?
(29:34) - The parable of the prodigal son
(35:04) - The love of the Father is undeserved and can’t be earned
(39:54) - God often chooses people we don’t expect him to
(43:14) - God's invitation to us
(45:59) - Dai performs his poem, ‘Prodigal Son’
Take our survey:We'd love to hear how you're finding the podcast. Please fill in our short survey so that we can continue to improve.Rooted:Rooted is our devotional journal that helps make the Bible available to everyone, everywhere. Every other month, you’ll receive a new 80-page journal filled with insightful devotionals, thought-provoking prompts, and lots of opportunities to reflect, journal and be creative. Sign up today to receive your first journal for free.Send us your questions!We'd love to hear from you.Submit your questionBible Society:The Rooted Podcast is brought to you by Bible Society, a Christian organisation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible. We communicate its relevance and invite people to experience the transforming power of the Scriptures in today’s world. Visit our website to find out more.Bible Society socials: FacebookInstagramX (formerly Twitter) Disclaimer: This is a Bible Society podcast, but it’s also a conversation between people exploring the Bible together. We won’t get everything right, and we won’t always agree! Please be patient with us and join us on the journey.#Parables #JesusTeaching #ProdigalSon #GoodSamaritan #SpokenWord #Storytelling #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast
--------
49:21
What's the cost of following Jesus? – Parables E5
In this episode we focus on parables that encourage us to make decisions about the Kingdom of God. We explore the confrontational nature of the parables about the sheep and the goats and the barren fig tree, drawing out their emphasis on the importance of what we do – Christian faith in action. We discuss how Jesus used these stories to provoke and challenge his audience regarding their relationship with God and their life choices. We conclude by thinking about the cost of discipleship, highlighting the trials and sacrifices involved in following Jesus.Timestamps(00:00) - Intro
(00:40) - How do parables bring us to a decision?
(02:45) - How do these parables function?
(04:45) - The parable of the sheep and the goats
(07:00) - What does this parable mean?
(12:00) - What we do matters
(17:07) - The parable of the barren fig tree
(19:07) - Ancient views on misfortune and sin
(22:12) - The patience of God
(26:22) - Pursuing the right fruit
(28:42) - The cost of being a disciple
Take our survey:We'd love to hear how you're finding the podcast. Please fill in our short survey so that we can continue to improve.Rooted:Rooted is our devotional journal that helps make the Bible available to everyone, everywhere. Every other month, you’ll receive a new 80-page journal filled with insightful devotionals, thought-provoking prompts, and lots of opportunities to reflect, journal and be creative. Sign up today to receive your first journal for free.Send us your questions!We'd love to hear from you.Submit your questionBible Society:The Rooted Podcast is brought to you by Bible Society, a Christian organisation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible. We communicate its relevance and invite people to experience the transforming power of the Scriptures in today’s world. Visit our website to find out more.Bible Society socials: FacebookInstagramX (formerly Twitter) Disclaimer: This is a Bible Society podcast, but it’s also a conversation between people exploring the Bible together. We won’t get everything right, and we won’t always agree! Please be patient with us and join us on the journey.#Parables #JesusTeaching #KingdomValues #GospelTeaching #GodsValueSystem #KingdomOfHeaven #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast
--------
41:11
Decoding the parables with Liam Thatcher – Parables E4
Today we're joined by Liam Thatcher, a church pastor from Oxford and former writer at Bible Society.In this episode we discuss how Jesus used simple illustrations to convey profound truths about the kingdom of heaven, emphasising the hidden yet transformative nature of these teachings. Looking at the parable of the leaven, we discuss the growth and impact of the kingdom in the world today, highlighting the importance of being active agents of change.We also explore the parable of the dragnet, emphasising the importance of patience and discernment in church life, the role of teachers, and the need for humility and celebration in our lives.Timestamps(00:00) - Intro
(01:30) - Jesus using short illustrations
(10:45) - The parable of the yeast
(14:56) - The scale of the kingdom
(18:26) - Do Christians need to be in places of power?
(23:20) - The hidden power of the kingdom
(25:31) - The parable of the dragnet
(27:56) - Judgement and justice in the kingdom
(30:26) - Church discipline
(35:51) - The parable of the lost coin
(39:26) - Measuring worth in God's eyes
Take our survey:We'd love to hear how you're finding the podcast. Please fill in our short survey so that we can continue to improve.Rooted:Rooted is our devotional journal that helps make the Bible available to everyone, everywhere. Every other month, you’ll receive a new 80-page journal filled with insightful devotionals, thought-provoking prompts, and lots of opportunities to reflect, journal and be creative. Sign up today to receive your first journal for free.Bible a MonthCould you put the Bible in someone’s hands every month with a regular donation of £10 or more? Find out more about how you can share God's word today.Send us your questions!We'd love to hear from you.Submit your questionBible Society:The Rooted Podcast is brought to you by Bible Society, a Christian organisation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible. We communicate its relevance and invite people to experience the transforming power of the Scriptures in today’s world. Visit our website to find out more.Bible Society socials: FacebookInstagramX (formerly Twitter) Disclaimer: This is a Bible Society podcast, but it’s also a conversation between people exploring the Bible together. We won’t get everything right, and we won’t always agree! Please be patient with us and join us on the journey.#Parables #JesusTeaching #KingdomValues #GospelTeaching #GodsValueSystem #KingdomOfHeaven #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast
--------
49:01
God's value system – Parables E3
What do the parables tell us about the value system of God's Kingdom?In this episode we look at God's value system as illustrated through Jesus' parables. We begin by touching on the big story of Scripture, exploring how humans have inverted kingdom values and the call to make sure God is on the throne in our lives and our values align with his. Then we explore the parables about the workers in the vineyard, the unforgiving servant, and the rich man and Lazarus. We draw lessons from them about God’s generosity, compassion, grace and justice, as well as considering the radical nature of these values and the implications for how we live our lives today. Timestamps(00:00) - Intro
(00:50) - What is the value system of God's Kingdom?
(04:45) - The parable of the workers in the vineyard
(07:30) - What does the parable mean? Radical generosity
(12:45) - The message for us and the dangers of comparison
(16:25) - Is gratitude a kingdom value?
(17:40) - The last will be first and the first will be last
(19:52) - The parable of the unforgiving servant
(22:27) - What is the main message? Justice and forgiveness
(28:32) - The rich man and Lazarus: salvation, resurrection and the afterlife
(30:32) - Mark's favourite Bible joke
(31:52) - What difference does believing in the afterlife make?
(35:22) - Our responsibility to help others
(36:52) - Personal reflections
Take our survey:We'd love to hear how you're finding the podcast. Please fill in our short survey so that we can continue to improve.Rooted:Rooted is our devotional journal that helps make the Bible available to everyone, everywhere. Every other month, you’ll receive a new 80-page journal filled with insightful devotionals, thought-provoking prompts, and lots of opportunities to reflect, journal and be creative. Sign up today to receive your first journal for free.Bible a MonthCould you put the Bible in someone’s hands every month with a regular donation of £10 or more? Find out more about how you can share God's word today.Send us your questions!We'd love to hear from you.Submit your questionBible Society:The Rooted Podcast is brought to you by Bible Society, a Christian organisation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible. We communicate its relevance and invite people to experience the transforming power of the Scriptures in today’s world. Visit our website to find out more.Bible Society socials: FacebookInstagramX (formerly Twitter) Disclaimer: This is a Bible Society podcast, but it’s also a conversation between people exploring the Bible together. We won’t get everything right, and we won’t always agree! Please be patient with us and join us on the journey.#Parables #JesusTeaching #KingdomValues #GospelTeaching #GodsValueSystem #KingdomOfHeaven #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast
Listen to The Rooted Podcast for in-depth conversations about the Bible and how we can apply it to our lives. Join the team behind Rooted, Bible Society's devotional journal, as we dig deeper into a theme or book of the Bible in each series and explore its message for us today.