Christianity Explored Leaders Podcast

Session 7 of the Christianity Explored course explores what it means to believe in and follow Jesus. This episode helps leaders think about the cost of following Jesus, and how different that cost may look to some. It also helps leaders consider what steps to take now that the course is coming to an end.Guests: Rani Joshi, South Asian Forum and Public Leadership UK Coordinator at Evangelical Alliance, and Keith Wilson, National Ambassador Coordinator at Christianity Explored00:00 Welcome01:09 Session 7: Life with Jesus 02:07 Finishing Well Without Pressuring People03:21 Creating Space for Honest Responses04:20 The Cost of Following Jesus05:50 The Cost for People from Other Faiths07:44 Supporting People Through Family & Community Tensions10:24 Understanding Jesus’ “Hundred Times as Much” Promise12:51 Following Jesus Doesn’t Mean a Problem-Free Life15:06 What Happens After Christianity Explored?16:53 The Prayer 17:59 Patience, Hospitality & One-to-One Conversations19:09 Helping Guests Transition into Church Life20:51 When People Have Experienced Religious Abuse22:06 Key Takeaways23:58 Thank you for joining us!

Session 6 of the Christianity Explored course introduces the gift: God's grace to be forgiven and enjoy eternity with him. This episode explores why grace is often difficult to accept, and the barriers many experience to receiving this gift God offers us.Guests: Efrem Buckle, Deputy CEO and Director of Training and Mentoring at London City Mission, and Nat Johnson, Director at True Freedom Trust00:00 Welcome 00:40 Session Six: The Gift01:29 Preparing for a Mixed Room03:50 Why Is Grace So Hard to Accept?04:59 Grace and Repentance06:02 When Good Things Become Barriers07:46 When You Feel Too Unworthy for Grace09:13 Mark 10 - The Rich Young Man11:00 Money, Wealth and What We Rely On12:34 What Is the One Thing You Won't Give Up?14:38 Caring for Guests When Following Jesus Is Costly16:42 Walking With People Beyond the Course17:55 Guest Contributor: Nat Johnson23:15 Grace, Identity and True Worth25:32 Key Takeaways26:32 Thank you for joining us!

Session 5 of the Christianity Explored course looks at the final scene in Mark: Jesus’ resurrection. This episode helps leaders understand why the resurrection matters, the evidence for the resurrection, and how it’s both good news and a warning.Guests: Rico Tice, Co-Founder of Christianity Explored, and Alanzo Paul at The Oxford Centre of Christian Apologetics00:00 Welcome00:39 Session 5: The Resurrection01:29 Understanding Where Guests Are At 03:36 Faith: Information, Meaning and Trust04:48 Why the Resurrection Matters06:36 Why Believe the Resurrection?08:11 Good News and Warning09:09 Mark 8: Identity, Mission, Call13:32 Guest Contributor: Alanzo Paul18:00 Peter’s Failure and Restoration20:14 Why the Resurrection Matters Today22:04 Holding Different Responses to Jesus22:56 Key Takeaways25:00 Thank you for joining us!

Session 4 of the Christianity Explored course talks about the cross and God’s plan to deliver us from the punishment for sin through the death of Jesus. This episode explores Jesus’ predictions in Mark, the way we see the Trinity displayed at the cross, and how to provide guidance on some common objections that the cross raises.Guest: Dr David Chapman, Professor of New Testament and Archaeology at Covenant Theological Seminary00:00 Welcome00:26 Meet Dr David Chapman00:49 Session 4: The Cross02:15 Taking the temperature of the room04:38 Mark 10.4506:26 What does "ransom" mean?07:46 Jesus' three predictions in Mark09:00 Our reactions to the cross12:05 Isn't it cruel for God the Father to punish the Son?14:30 Why did the temple curtain tear?16:52 The two things guests should see at the cross17:34 The Great Swap19:19 Key Takeaways20:43 Thank you for joining us!

Session 3 of the Christianity Explored course talks about the problem Jesus came to solve: our sin. The films open with Scripture, using gentle but honest language to help us face our problem head-on and understand the need for Jesus. This episode helps equip leaders to have healthy discussions around sin, judgment, and hell, and to listen well to objections guests have about Jesus’ teaching.Guests: Dr Tasha Chapman (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), and Alex McCoy, Vicar at St Andrew's Kowloon⁠00:00⁠ Welcome & Meet Dr Tasha Chapman⁠00:58⁠ Session 3: The Problem⁠02:19⁠ How to Manage Time in Christianity Explored⁠03:37⁠ How to Lead Conversations Well⁠05:58⁠ How Should We Talk About Sin?⁠09:02⁠ What Jesus Says About Sin in Mark⁠11:46⁠ Keeping Difficult Discussions Focused on Jesus⁠13:24⁠ Should Leaders Share Their Personal Stories?⁠15:22⁠ How to Handle Difficult Questions in a Group⁠16:42⁠ Responding to Questions by Listening Well⁠18:45⁠ Guest Contributor: Alex McCoy⁠20:13⁠ Key Takeaways⁠21:48⁠ Thank you for joining us!

Session 2 of the Christianity Explored course looks at Jesus’ power and authority and how he uses it with humility and compassion to serve, heal, and forgive. This episode discusses why people sometimes distrust authority and how to help those who may have had difficult experiences. It also encourages leaders with the reminder of why Jesus’ authority can be trusted.Guests: Efrem Buckle, Deputy CEO and Director of Training and Mentoring at London City Mission, and Dr Israel Olofinjana, Director of the One People Commission at the Evangelical Alliance⁠ 00:00⁠ Welcome⁠00:25⁠ Meet the Guest: Efrem Buckle⁠00:50⁠ Session 2: Power and Authority⁠01:50⁠ How to Prepare for Session 2⁠04:20⁠ Why People Distrust Authority⁠05:59⁠ Why Jesus’ Authority Can Be Trusted⁠10:15⁠ How to Respond to Difficult Questions⁠13:07⁠ Creating Space and Listening Well⁠15:47⁠ Responding to Abusive Christian Leaders⁠17:45⁠ Guest Contributor: Dr Israel Olofinjana⁠21:45⁠ Key Takeaways⁠23:25⁠ Thank you for joining us!

Session 1 of the Christianity Explored course introduces Jesus in the Gospel of Mark and poses Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8, NIV). This episode explores the topic of identity, both who Jesus is and how people often frame their own identities, as well as how to answer questions about the Trinity.Guests: Peter Lynas, UK Director at Evangelical Alliance, and Alex McCoy, Vicar at St Andrew's Kowloon00:00 Welcome00:22 Meet the Guest: Peter Lynas00:55 Session One: Jesus02:40 Asking "Who Am I?"05:00 Who Is Jesus?06:42 Three Identity Stories08:55 From Self-Identity to Jesus12:00 Jesus: Messiah and Son of God14:49 Making Space for Questions16:03 Understanding the Trinity16:47 Guest Contributor: Alex McCoy18:24 Key Takeaways20:39 Thank you for joining us!

This episode helps equip leaders with confidence to lead healthy and honest conversations. Our hosts and guests share how to create a welcoming environment, understand group dynamics, handle difficult questions and disagreements, and more.Guests: Dr Tasha Chapman, PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Keith Wilson, National Ambassador Coordinator at Christianity Explored00:00 Welcome01:08 Meet the Guests: Tasha Chapman & Keith Wilson02:12 Preparing for Session One04:28 Creating a Welcoming Environment06:30 Common Leader Mistakes07:13 Understanding Group Dynamics08:43 Drawing Out Quiet Participants10:09 Keeping Discussions on Track12:01 Handling Difficult Questions17:34 Managing Disagreement18:24 Other Faith Perspectives19:21 Caring for Guests & Setting Boundaries22:01 Key Takeaways23:06 Thank you for joining us!

This episode explores our role in evangelism and God’s role in bringing people to faith. Rico Tice, Co-Founder of Christianity Explored, unpacks 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 and encourages and equips us to share the gospel with others.Guest: Rico Tice, Co-Founder of Christianity Explored00:00 Welcome00:44 2 Corinthians 4:1-601:25 Our Role and God’s Role in Evangelism04:25 Who Is at Work in Evangelism?05:52 The Leader’s Posture: Thankfulness06:40 Setting Forth the Truth Plainly07:45 Speaking About Sin, Repentance and Wrath10:55 Why Prayer Is Essential13:30 Explore, Listen and Explain15:14 Building Relationships Beyond the Course17:14 Persevering in Evangelism18:00 Episode 3 Preview

The Christianity Explored course goes through the Gospel of Mark, inviting guests to consider the claims of Jesus. Rico Tice, Co-Founder of Christianity Explored, shares in the first episode why the course uses Mark’s Gospel and the framework of the identity, mission, and call of Christ.Guests: Rico Tice, Co-Founder of Christianity Explored, and Rachael Heffer, Head of Mission at the Evangelical Alliance00:00 Welcome to Christianity Explored Leaders Podcast02:03 Meet the Hosts and Rico Tice04:19 Growing Spiritual Hunger 05:34 Why Mark's Gospel?07:03 "Let the Gospel Tell the Gospel"07:50 Identity, Mission and Call09:48 Crossing the "Pain Line" in Evangelism13:37 Guest Contributor: Rachael Heffer14:16 Why Are People Exploring Christianity?15:48 The Power of Relationships17:30 Practical Advice for Churches19:26 Preparing Leaders and Building Community20:42 Making Evangelism Part of Church Life22:11 Episode 2 Preview