Paul and Dan embark on a multi-part exploration of the terms Devil and Satan and how they are used through the Bible. They aim to lay some foundations by thinking about how our worldview might affect how we read the Bible and (eventually) start to explore some key verses. The initial conclusion is that they may not be referring to a supernatural being, as is commonly supposed.
How can Jesus uniquely be called the Son of God? Does calling him the Son of God make him Deity in any sense? What is Jesus claiming when he says he is the Son of God? All these questions and more are considered in this episode.
What does it mean for something to be the inspired word of God? Is it possible to explain how that happens, and if we can't, what certainty can we have about divine authority behind the text of the Bible? Considering these questions leads us to realise how important it is to treat the text with respect and be responsible and humble in how we draw out our interpretations of God's word.
To kick off a new series on Biblical themes, we look at 8 different ideas about the Kingdom of God. We find that both Jesus' statements about it and the expectations of his audience were deeply rooted in the Old Testament, Hebrew scriptures. This brings to life a tangible picture of what is involved but also something far greater and more universal than even the Jews expected!
All sorts of terrifying images come to mind with the word hell! We build up a coherent picture that makes sense in the light of a moral God who has shown himself in the face of Jesus as full of grace and truth.
What or where is heaven? We explore what "heaven" meant to the Biblical writers, concluding that it's much less about a physical location and much more about the presence of God and a relationship that ordinary people (on earth) can have with him through Jesus.
What is a soul? Can it be destroyed? Where does it come from and where does it go? In this episode Laurence and Paul get underneath the biblical meaning of 'soul' and they find that the Hebrew and Greek words for soul reveal something quite unexpected. Oh and there may be a few musical references...