The Rooted Podcast

Help us improve The Rooted Podcast by taking our survey.

We’re taking some time to work on the podcast and make it the best it can be so that more people like you can learn about the Bible and what it has to say for us today. We’re looking forward to re-launching the podcast in 2026 but in the meantime, we’d love for you to fill in a short survey so that we can make the podcast better.
We want to know things you like, things you don't, and let us know what you'd like us to try moving forward!
We look forward to hearing from you and we are excited to get back to recording in the new year.

What is pentecost? What can we learn from the early church?
Join us as we discuss the significance of Pentecost, exploring its historical and Biblical context, the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the early church.  We also reflect on the courage and community of the early believers, and the lessons that can be applied to the church today.
Join us for a week of Pentecost devotionals.
Timestamps

(00:00) - Intro

(02:00) - What is Pentecost and where does it come from?

(04:40) - What happened at Pentecost? Acts 2

(05:40) - Why does God come in the form of wind and fire?

(08:09) - Speaking in tongues

(09:34) - Babel and The Great Commission

(12:29) - Why do the disciples have to wait for the Holy Spirit?

(17:39) - Why did the disciples go on missionary journeys?

(19:39) - The end of Luke vs the beginning of Acts

(21:24) - What can we learn from the early Church?

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 question

Bible 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: 
Facebook
Instagram
X (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.
#Pentecost #EarlyChurch #WhatIsPentecost #Acts2 #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast

The Quiet Revival report has taken the UK by storm. But how is your church responding to this missional moment? And how can you invite today’s spiritually open Gen Z to experience Scripture?
Join Dr Andrew Ollerton and Dr Rhiannon McAleer, co-author of The Quiet Revival report, as they unpack the data from our report, investigate how Scripture is speaking to the societal challenges of our day, and share a roadmap to increasing confidence in the Bible in your community.
With our research showing 26 per cent of people in England and Wales are interested in discovering more about Bible, this podcast will inspire, encourage and equip you to discover your place in The Quiet Revival.
Subscribe today

Why has this story been included in the biblical canon? What does it reveal about Jesus’ divine position as just lawgiver and merciful judge?

In this bonus episode, returning special guest Stuart Ford joins Esther and Mark to discuss the story of the woman caught in adultery from John 8.1–11. We explore the complexities of the narrative, including the authenticity of the passage and its inclusion in Scripture, the agenda of the Pharisees and scribes, and what Jesus’ response reveals about him. We draw out the profound themes of mercy, judgement and forgiveness. 

The discussion highlights the vulnerability of the woman, the hypocrisy and hard-heartedness of the accusers and the transformative power of Jesus' response. Ultimately, the conversation emphasises the call for Christians to embody the forgiveness and mercy on offer through Jesus in their lives.

Check out our latest research about churchgoing in the UK

Timestamps

(00:00) - Intro

(01:50) - Why are we talking about the woman caught in adultery?

(03:15) - Should this story be in the Bible?

(07:15) - What is the story of the woman caught in adultery about?

(09:20) - Why does Jesus write in the sand? What did he write?

(15:56) - Where is the man in the story?

(19:31) - Sin, justice and mercy

(23:56) - King David, adultery and redemption

(27:01) - Forgiveness is not cheap or easy

(29:46) - Personal reflections

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 question

Bible 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: 
Facebook
Instagram
X (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.
#Mercy #MercyOverJudgement #John8 #WomenCaughtInAdultery #JesusWritingInTheSand #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast

The Quiet Revival report has taken the UK by storm. But how is your church responding to this missional moment? And how can you invite today’s spiritually open Gen Z to experience Scripture?
Join Dr Andrew Ollerton and Dr Rhiannon McAleer, co-author of The Quiet Revival report, as they unpack the data from our report, investigate how Scripture is speaking to the societal challenges of our day, and share a roadmap to increasing confidence in the Bible in your community.
With our research showing 26 per cent of people in England and Wales are interested in discovering more about Bible, this podcast will inspire, encourage and equip you to discover your place in The Quiet Revival.
Subscribe today

What does it mean for Jesus to be the true vine, or vineyard? What does it mean to abide in Christ and be fruitful?

In this episode, Noël and Mark are joined by special guest Chantelle Baker, to discuss the final I Am statement in John’s Gospel: ‘I am the vine; you are the branches’ (John 15.5). We begin by exploring how this verse has been translated. Should it in fact be rendered, ‘I am the vineyard and you are the vine’ and does this change the meaning of the metaphor?
The conversation touches on the wider use and significance of ‘vine’ imagery in the Bible, before exploring what it means to abide or remain in Christ. Thinking about fruitfulness, we look at the connection between who we are and what we do – the relationship between faith and works – and the many different expressions of this we might see in community. We finish by asking who or what the fruit of the vine is for and sharing our personal reflections.

Check out our latest research about churchgoing in the UK

Timestamps

(00:00) - Intro

(01:45) - John 15

(02:15) - Has John 15 been mistranslated?

(05:05) - Vine imagery in the Bible

(10:00) - What does it mean to abide in Christ?

(15:15) - Producing fruit is a result of abiding in Jesus

(19:54) - Can we abide in Christ without being fruitful?

(21:39) - What does fruitfulness look like?

(25:39) - Who is our fruit for?

(30:19) - Personal reflections

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 question

Bible 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: 
Facebook
Instagram
X (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.
#Abide #AbidingInChrist #IAM #TrueVine #IAmTheVine #John15 #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast

The Quiet Revival report has taken the UK by storm. But how is your church responding to this missional moment? And how can you invite today’s spiritually open Gen Z to experience Scripture?
Join Dr Andrew Ollerton and Dr Rhiannon McAleer, co-author of The Quiet Revival report, as they unpack the data from our report, investigate how Scripture is speaking to the societal challenges of our day, and share a roadmap to increasing confidence in the Bible in your community.
With our research showing 26 per cent of people in England and Wales are interested in discovering more about Bible, this podcast will inspire, encourage and equip you to discover your place in The Quiet Revival.
Subscribe today

In what sense is Jesus ‘the way, the truth, and the life’? What was the significance of his words about his Father’s house?

In this episode, we’re joined by Jack Morris, our producer, to discuss Jesus' statement in John 14: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life'. As well as unpacking the significance of each word, asking what Jesus meant by ‘way’, ‘truth’, and ‘life’, we explore the wider context in John’s Gospel for Jesus saying this and the picture he provides of his Father’s house. 
The conversation touches on the interaction between Jesus and the confused and questioning disciples and his words of comfort to them. It delves into the need for us to have a relationship with Jesus, the nature of truth and how Jesus reveals truth, and what constitutes the fullness of life.

Timestamps

(00:00) - Intro

(01:30) - The context of Jesus saying ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life’

(05:50) - The value of Jesus accepting his disciples despite their doubts

(09:00) - What is Jesus the way to? What is Jesus' way?

(16:35) - What is the truth? How is Jesus the truth?

(20:05) - Truth in today's society: empirical truth vs subjective ‘truths’

(23:05) - What does it mean that Jesus is ‘the life’?

(27:05) - What is the good life?

(30:50) - Personal reflections

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 question

Bible 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: 
Facebook
Instagram
X (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.
#Truth #EternalLife #IAM #TheWayTheTruthTheLife #WayTruthLife #WhatIsTruth  #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast

The Quiet Revival report has taken the UK by storm. But how is your church responding to this missional moment? And how can you invite today’s spiritually open Gen Z to experience Scripture?
Join Dr Andrew Ollerton and Dr Rhiannon McAleer, co-author of The Quiet Revival report, as they unpack the data from our report, investigate how Scripture is speaking to the societal challenges of our day, and share a roadmap to increasing confidence in the Bible in your community.
With our research showing 26 per cent of people in England and Wales are interested in discovering more about Bible, this podcast will inspire, encourage and equip you to discover your place in The Quiet Revival.
Subscribe today