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A Podcast about the Bible Every two weeks, from two different countries, the two hosts of the Two Texts podcast pick two biblical texts to talk about. Each episode we pick one text to talk about, which invariably leads to us talking about two texts and often many more. Dr John Andrews and Dr David Harvey share a mutual fascination with the Bible. Simple yet complex; ancient yet relevant; challenging yet comforting. But one thing that fascinates them consistently is that, like a kaleidoscope, ...
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News, interviews, book reviews, and discussion each week from the Church Times - the world's leading newspaper on faith and the Church.
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Australian rugby once had $40 million in the bank. Crowds over 100,000. TV audiences of 3 million. Today the Wallabies have sunk to their lowest world ranking ever. Off the field rugby is a "war zone" with a $20 million deficit last year alone. The Breakdown is a gripping podcast investigation from The Australian, exploring just how far "the game they play in heaven" has fallen - and why. Jessica Halloran and Claire Harvey have interviewed everyone from ex-PMs and billionaires to Wallabies l ...
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Orbital by Samantha Harvey, shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. On the podcast this week, the Revd Gerry Lynch, who has written about the book in this week’s Church Times, discusses it with Ed Thornton. Read the essay here: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/1-november/books-arts/bo…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David continue their exploration of Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:22-24. We consider how Paul speaks about being “bound by the Spirit” and the compelling nature of his mission, desp…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David discuss Paul’s farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20. We explore how Paul’s message emphasizes humility, transparency, and commitment, highlighting his dedication to serving the church and…
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This week, Rupert Shortt is interviewed about his latest book, The Eclipse of Christianity: And why it matters (Comment, 13 September, Books, 20 September).The wide-ranging book reports on the unsettling consequences of secularisation, but also offers a robust defence of the intellectual coherence of Christian belief and argues that Europe’s histor…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David explore the story of Eutychus in Acts 20, discussing the early church's gathering practices, the significance of discomfort in spiritual growth, and the "naturalness" of miracles within the community. T…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David consider Acts 20:7. A short verse that tells us much about the early church's practices, the connection to the resurrection, and the intentionality behind worship structures. How does a church gathering…
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The Bell by Iris Murdoch is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. On the podcast this week, the Revd Jeremy Davies, retired Canon Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral, who has a long and abiding interest in the works of Iris Murdoch, discusses the book with Francis Martin, who has written about the book in this week’s Church Times.Publish…
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The Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, gave the plenary lecture at the Church Times Festival of Preaching this month in Great St Mary’s, Cambridge (Features, 20 September).In the lecture, she spoke about the weariness she has detected in the Church and in society at large. She also explained why she worries, for practical and theologica…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David explore the themes of the early church's behaviour, the dynamics of fear and faith, and the importance of community in the Christian journey. They discuss how the actions of the early disciples empowere…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David explore Acts 19, the dynamics of mob mentality, the role of a city clerk in calming a chaotic assembly, and the implications of Paul's absence during a critical moment. They discuss the early church's a…
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On the podcast this week, Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch is interviewed by Paul Handley about his new book Lower Than the Angels: A history of sex and Christianity.In a review of the book in this week’s Church Times, Penelope Cowell Doe writes that “one of his main concerns . . . is to show that the Church has never been univocal in speaking about s…
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Truth and morality are central to the thought of the Roman Catholic philosopher John Cottingham, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Reading and an honorary fellow of St John’s College, Oxford.Andrew Brown interviewed Professor Cottingham for the Church Times this week, and this podcast brings an extended version of the interview.…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David discuss the impact of the kingdom of God on the economic world of Ephesus and the dangers of self-service, idolatry, and money. The conversation explores the motivations behind Demetrius' opposition to …
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which David and John discuss the riot in Ephesus at Acts 19. They explore the themes of idolatry, the pursuit of wealth, and the impact on people and society. They highlight the connection between idolatry and the abuse of …
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Sarah Tarlow is on the podcast this week to talk about her memoir The Archaeology of Loss, this month’s Church Times book club title. Susan Gray has written a reflection on the book in the 6 September edition of the Church Times: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/books-arts/book-clubIn her candid memoir, Sarah Tarlow excavates her memory to piece toget…
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On the podcast this week, we bring a fascinating conversation between the Bishop of Ramsbury, in Salisbury diocese, Dr Andrew Rumsey, and the podcaster and mindset coach David Watson, about church buildings and the contribution that they make to communities.Dr Rumsey is the co-lead bishop for church buildings; his recent folk album, Evensongs, was …
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) David and John spend a second bonus episode discussing John's new book, 'Emmaus, The Walk That Changed Everything,' which is about the Emmaus Road story in the Gospel of Luke. We're excited that John's new book is out, so as w…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) David and John discusses John's new book, 'Emmaus, The Walk That Changed Everything,' which focuses on the story of the Emmaus Road Narrative in the Gospel of Luke. We're excited that John's new book is out, so as we head into…
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The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. On the podcast this week, Caroline Chartres, who has written this month’s Book Club reflection on the book, is in conversation with Sarah Meyrick. Maggie O’Farrell transports the reader to Renaissance Italy in her latest historical novel The Marriage Po…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David discuss the encounter between the demonized man and the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19. They explore the significance of knowing Jesus and the dangers of engaging with the supernatural world based on eg…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which David and John discuss the importance of the supernatural and the power of the Holy Spirit in the early church. They reflect on the extraordinary miracles performed by Paul and the significance of the embodied nature …
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Can organs (and organists), choirs, instrumental music groups, and praise bands exist in harmony? This question was considered by an expert panel at the first Church Times Festival of Faith and Music in York (News, 3 May), held in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music.The panellists, who all have experience of traditional and contempora…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which David and John discuss Acts 19 and the significance of the Holy Spirit's work in the early church. They highlight the importance of asking the right questions and the power of boldness in proclaiming the gospel. They …
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David discuss the unexpected disciples Paul encounters in Ephesus, highlighting the centrality of the Holy Spirit in the early church. In Ephesus we see how Spiritual Formation was handled immediately with a …
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Book Club Podcast: Isabelle Hamley on Struggling with God: Mental health and Christian spirituality
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On the podcast this week, the Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley is interviewed about Struggling with God: Mental health and Christian spirituality, which she co-wrote with C. H. Cook and John Swinton. The book is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. She is in conversation with Sarah Meyrick.Anne Holmes has written this month’s book club essay …
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On the podcast this week, the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, is interviewed by Francis Martin about her visit this month to Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.Since the “awful atrocities” committed by Hamas on 7 October and the subsequent “horrors of the war in Gaza”, she said, “there has been an absence of a focus on the West …
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) As we reach 100 episodes of our Acts series (which we planned as a short series for the summer of 2022!) our latest show delves into the intricate details of Paul’s missionary journey and the role of Apollos in Acts 18:18-28. …
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David discuss Paul's trust in divine guidance throughout his ministry and travel. Even during a brief stay in Ephesus we see that Paul prefers a missionary "strategy" that combines relational integrity with a…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David delve into the significance of Priscilla and Aquila as a ministry couple, their role as fellow workers with Paul, and the broader theme of gender equality and partnership in ministry. They also explore …
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This week’s episode is brought to you from Edinburgh, and features a conversation with the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Revd Mark Strange. It was recorded on Saturday, 15 June, at the conclusion of the Church’s General Synod meeting.The Primus spoke about the General Election campaign and Christians’ involvement in politics; th…
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Stewart McCulloch joined Christians Against Poverty (CAP) at the start of the year as its new chief executive. He previously led the charity Stewardship.CAP’s latest report says that 46 per cent of its clients have considered taking their own life as a way out of their debt, and nine out of ten have reported having sleepless nights from financial a…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which David and John discuss Paul's vow in Acts 18. This episode is conversation that covers a range of topics, including their personal experiences, the journey of Paul in Acts 18, the significance of vows and commitments …
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The best-selling novelist Karen Powell is the guest on this month’s Book Club Podcast, where Sarah Meyrick interviews her about Fifteen Wild Decembers, which is this month’s choice.Michael Wheeler has written an essay about the book in the 7 June edition of the Church Times.Fifteen Wild Decembers is a re-imagining of the life of Emily Brontë set ag…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David picture Paul teaching with seemingly unwavering confidence, even as factions of Corinth unite against him. They delve into the dramatic trial before Gallio, the proconsul, whose disinterest and swift di…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David explore the divine vision that anchors Paul amidst opposition, and marvel at how the Holy Spirit's guidance offers both freedom and precise direction. There's a whisper of comfort that finds its way thr…
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On the podcast this week, Elizabeth Oldfield talks about her new book, Fully Alive: Tending to the soul in turbulent times. An extract from the book is published in the 24 May edition of the Church Times.Elizabeth is a journalist, public intellectual, and the host of the podcast The Sacred, which explores the deep values of a range of guests. Until…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David continue their exploration of the Apostle Paul's transition from Athens to Corinth, delving into the striking contrast between the intellectual debates in Athens and the grounded, everyday reality of te…
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On this week’s podcast, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, is interviewed by Francis Martin about her recent trip to Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. The aim of the trip was to show solidarity with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and Christians in the region, and to understand more about the conflict and its impact on the di…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David peel back layers of history, strategy, and divine connection to uncover how Paul's tentmaking was more than mere survival—it was a bridge to hearts and a canvas for the Gospel. We examine the shift as P…
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On the podcast this week, the Archbishop of York speaks about “Tuning Forks and Orchestras: Music and the mission of God.” The talk was given at the first Church Times Festival of Faith and Music in York Minster late last month (News, 3 May). It was held in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music.“The universe and all creation are held to…
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On the podcast this week, Elizabeth Fremantle is interviewed about her historical novel Disobedient, which is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. She is in conversation with Sarah Meyrick.Natalie K. Watson has written this month’s book club essay about Disobedient.Disobedient is an enthralling historical novel that retells the turbu…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David discuss the unexpected connections between the Apostle Paul's eloquent Mars Hill sermon and the rich world of Greek poetry. Imagine finding the divine in places you'd never think to look! The episode me…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David peel back the layers of Paul's engagement with Greek thinkers, using their own religious and cultural touchstones to introduce Jesus and the Gospel. As we unravel the nuances of Paul's argument, we pond…
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On the podcast this week, Fr Alex Frost — parish priest, best-selling author, and host of The God Cast — talks to Madeleine Davies about the Church of England’s problems connecting with people from working-class settings.Fr Alex has written a comment article in this week’s Church Times which argues that the C of E needs to remove barriers that make…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David consider the insults or comments made about Paul by the Athenians. Ever wondered how a man branded a "babbler" by ancient intellectuals could spark a spiritual revolution? We consider the opposition tha…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David explore the Apostle Paul's reaction to his visit to Athens where he boldly confronted idolatry and introduced the early Christian gospel. Athens, with its pantheon of gods and penchant for debate, provi…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) John and David trace the steps of Paul and Silas, venturing through Thessalonica's tension-filled streets into the welcoming community of Berea. Our latest episode unravels the stark contrasts these early Christian evangelists…
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The Beginning of Spring by Penelope Fitzgerald is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. On the podcast this week, Emily Rhodes, who has written this month’s Book Club essay about the book, is in conversation with Sarah Meyrick. The Beginning of Spring is a historical novel set in Moscow a few years before the Russian Revolution as pol…
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Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply) In which John and David wonder about how the early Christians navigated the tension between their revolutionary faith and the power of the Roman Empire? We traverse the ancient roads of Paul and Silas, unpacking their strategi…
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On the podcast this week, the Rector of St Andrew’s, Ramallah, the Revd Fadi Diab, is interviewed by Francis Martin.Fr Diab was in the UK last week, hosted by Friends of the Holy Land, an ecumenical organisation whose volunteer committee he chairs (News, 22 March). During the visit, he met the Archbishop of Canterbury, who, Fr Diab says, “stands fi…
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