エピソード

  • Episode 89 - Entrepreneurs, Pioneers, and the Church

    Episode 89 - Entrepreneurs, Pioneers, and the Church
    2025/01/29
    The history of humanity is replete with examples of trailblazers able to think outside the box, disrupt existing conventions, pioneer new ways of thinking, and advance into new territory. We might think of great geniuses of the past like Thomas Edison, or perhaps the more recent technological pioneers like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk. Such people have often had the ability to lead and advance with extraordinary creativity, conviction, and courage, and have achieved significant things. Why are there now so few of these kinds of leaders in the Church? Does the pioneer's aggressive and disruptive approach to convention inevitably jar with Christian virtues like humility, love, and sacrifice? Or is it rather that we have excluded entrepreneurial courage, creativity, and confrontation from Christian values? Does our fear of the abuse of power end up stifling the necessary freedom of pioneer leadership? Are we often in danger of overplaying Christ's servant-hearted qualities at the expense of his aggressive and confrontational decision-making? How might church leaders encourage more business entrepreneurs in the Church to succeed and advance the kingdom in a wholly Christlike manner? ** ENJOY POD OF THE GAPS? Why not make a 2025 resolution and support the podcast; just a small donation helps us keep making these episodes: https://soundcloud.com/wkop-podcast ** Resources: - Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk (2024). https://www.waterstones.com/book/elon-musk/walter-isaacson/9781398536418 - Deborah Cadbury, Chocolate Wars (2011). https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chocolate-Wars-150-Year-Rivalry-Greatest/dp/1610390512 - Aaron Edwards, "Apostolic Leadership and the Spectre of Spiritual Abuse Suspicions of Pioneer Authority as Hindrances to Pioneer Mission" Eucharisma 1 (Spring 2024). https://eucharisma.co.uk/apostolic-leadership-and-the-spectre-of-spiritual-abuse/#32990516-3f6b-4dbe-950b-82dfd2074bfc-link
    続きを読む 一部表示
    54 分
  • Episode 88 - Six Challenges for the Church in 2025

    Episode 88 - Six Challenges for the Church in 2025
    2025/01/04
    Pod of the Gaps returns for another year, kicking off with our annual New Year live-reveal of Aaron and Andy's six key challenges for the Church in the year ahead (three each!) as we seek to meet this cultural moment wisely and faithfully in light of the Word of God. As always, if you care about the direction of the Church in the challenging times ahead, you'll want to listen to this one!
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 12 分
  • Episode 87 - The Twelve Things of Christmas

    Episode 87 - The Twelve Things of Christmas
    2024/12/20
    Christmas comes but once a year, but over the years we each tend to build up a collection of favourite and not-so-favourite parts of it. In this special festive episode, Aaron and Andy each reveal their best and worst from the ghosts of Christmas past, from six categories including everything from movies to traditions to carols to evangelism, and more! They also talk through once again why Christmas truly matters, and why and how evangelicals really should make the most of this unique time of year to be joyful, generous, and bold in proclaiming Christ and living out the message of Christmas in our lives, trappings and all. ** ENJOY POD OF THE GAPS? Why not make a 2025 resolution and support the podcast; just a small donation helps us keep making these episodes: https://soundcloud.com/wkop-podcast ** ** THINGS WE MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE ** "Have You Ever Wondered?" >> https://www.solas-cpc.org/hyew-book/
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 1 分
  • Episode 86 - Justin Welby and the Decline of Church Leadership

    Episode 86 - Justin Welby and the Decline of Church Leadership
    2024/11/15
    The resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, made headline news across the UK and the wider world. This itself points to the ongoing public significance of the CofE and the knock-on effects for the wider church. Why did Welby choose to resign after pressure of public disrepute from external liberal media and government, rather than after the pressure from faithful Christians over his handling of LGBT+ issues or his support for other-religious festivals? What does this tell us about the priorities not only of his own leadership, but of the institution more broadly? How did Welby's evangelical convictions erode during his time in office? Was the authority of Scripture subtly replaced by a vague sense of "theological reflection"? What lessons can be learned for leaders and institutions going forward regarding "reputation"? Andy and Aaron cover all this and more in the latest episode of Pod of the Gaps. ** SUPPORT POD OF THE GAPS HERE: https://soundcloud.com/wkop-podcast ** RESOURCES: - Welby Resignation statement https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/statement-archbishop-canterbury-0 - Lambeth Statement on LLF https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/lambeth-palace-statement-living-love-and-faith - 'Simpering Onto the Sexular Carpet with the Archbishop of Canterbury', Stephen McAlpine, https://stephenmcalpine.com/simpering-onto-the-sexular-carpet-with-the-archbishop-of-canterbury/ - 'How church attendance crumbled under Justin Welby' https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/12/church-attendance-falls-justin-welby-archbishop-canterbury/ - 'Diwali, the Gospel, and AoC Welby' https://virtueonline.org/diwali-gospel-and-archbishop-justin-welby
    続きを読む 一部表示
    58 分
  • Episode 85 - Why Euthanasia Is Not Compassionate

    Episode 85 - Why Euthanasia Is Not Compassionate
    2024/10/24
    Euthanasia (or "good death") often returns to the front line of political, ethical, and religious debate, most recently with the "Assisted Dying" bill brought before the British parliament. The language used to describe euthanasia (as with abortion) is often very reasonable-sounding and compassionate. But does it conceal? How does such language subtly change our response to what is really going on What is the danger of instituting laws which change the way we view the value of human life within society? How should Christians respond to the complexities of this topic sensitively and wisely? Join Aaron and Andy once more as they dive into another vitally important topic for our times. ** SUPPORT POD OF THE GAPS HERE: https://soundcloud.com/wkop-podcast ** SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE MENTIONED ... Douglas Murray, 'The West’s uncivilised euthanasia policy', The Spectator, https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-wests-uncivilised-euthanasia-policy/ Kevil Yuill, 'The inhumanity of ‘assisted dying', Spiked, https://www.spiked-online.com/2024/04/03/the-inhumanity-of-assisted-dying/ Christian Medical Fellowship: https://bit.ly/3A3by0J John Patrick: https://johnpatrick.ca
    続きを読む 一部表示
    52 分
  • Episode 84 - When Church Structures Rot

    Episode 84 - When Church Structures Rot
    2024/10/07
    Why do many historic church institutions often end up undermining the very reason they are meant to exist? There have been many movements and institutions in the history of the Church. Some last longer than others. But over time, they always become more complex, more unwieldy, more difficult to “manage”. Why do the inheritors of incredible legacies of vibrant Christian faith often act so differently from those who left the legacy itself? What is behind the desire of a leader or group to protect an institution’s traditions, processes, and reputation at the expense of their Biblical and missional principles? What makes Christian institutions especially prone to “ossification”? How can churches and movements ensure they don’t allow their pre-existing expectations and challenges to deceive them in how they discern the shape of their future without cutting themselves off from their past? Join Andy and Aaron as they discuss all this and more on the latest episode of Pod of the Gaps. RESOURCES MENTIONED ... V. Raymond Edman, 'They Found the Secret' (Zondervan, 1984) PLEASE HELP POD OF THE GAPS Pod of the Gaps needs your help to keep going! If you enjoy our adventures in culture and theology, please consider a small monthly tip to keep us recording: www.patreon.com/wkop
    続きを読む 一部表示
    57 分
  • Episode 83 - How Christian is Cultural Christianity?

    Episode 83 - How Christian is Cultural Christianity?
    2024/09/25
    Despite the obvious anti-Christian trajectory of Western society, a growing number of influencers are beginning to see the moral and cultural benefits of Christianity. It could even be said that Christianity is becoming "cool" again! But is there a danger that people misunderstand Christianity by merely seeing its general moral value? Are such people merely becoming inoculated to true Christianity, ignoring the parts they don't like? How did Christian nations like Britain come about? What might it take to bring them about again? How can churches respond well to this strange cultural moment? Join Aaron and Andy for another long-awaited episode of Pod of the Gaps! RESOURCES MENTIONED: - Justin Brierley, "The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God" - Kisin, Konstantin, "An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the West" - "The Unravelling of the West, with Melanie Phillips", The Brendan O'Neill Show, https://bit.ly/3TELcZa - "In Defence of Christian Britain". https://thatgoodfight.substack.com/p/in-defence-of-christian-britain - "Christian Britain has always been imaginary". https://theconversation.com/christian-britain-has-always-been-imaginary-its-time-to-teach-children-that-28696 - "Christian preacher assaulted by Islamic mob chanting ‘Allahu Akbar...". https://christianconcern.com/ccpressreleases/christian-preacher-assaulted-by-islamic-mob-chanting-allahu-akbar-wins-10000-pay-out-after-false-arrest-at-speakers-corner/
    続きを読む 一部表示
    56 分
  • Episode 82 - What Are We Reading?

    Episode 82 - What Are We Reading?
    2024/07/23
    They say "you are what you read!" We read all sorts of things in life but rarely do we think all that much about reading as we struggle to keep up with the many words and authors that cross our path. In this special episode, Andy and Aaron met up in Oxford to talk about the books they've been reading of late, and how these books relate to life, the universe, and everything. They discuss numerous things, from reading Tolkien's letters whilst walking through Magdalen College, to books by atheist comedians, to Wind in the Willows! Somehow they still manage to talk about numerous themes relating to church, politics, secularism, beauty, culture, apologetics, and the kingdom of God. They even manage to get interrupted mid-episode by the cast of an outdoor Shakespeare play ... enjoy!
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 6 分