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Modern life in the 21st century west provides us with a plethora of ways of escaping reality. When the challenges of life are all too much, we usually find comfort in numbing our minds. Drugs, alcohol, and other traditional forms of escape often take the spotlight in a Christian tradition; but what about the more subversive forms: netflix, online shopping, gaming or continual scrolling. How might we hold these wisely as we seek to follow Jesus? This week, we are joined by psychologist Rochelle Masters, as we explore how we might live present to our reality. 

Some stages of life have steep-learning curves and parenting is the life equivalent of Everest. The process of becoming a mother or father takes time, help, mistakes, encouragement, and a whole lot of grace. Parenting isn't a set of simple formulas and principles, but rather a commitment to do our very best in raising our children. Today, we are joined by Phillip & Lisa Gageler (aka Ryan's Mum & Dad) as they share some of their parenting insights.

To be human is to be a liturgical creature – a person of rhythm, habit and practice. That is why worship is at the heart of Christian discipleship. Christian transformation isn't just manifested in what you think or what you believe – but what you do – and what those practices do to you. Could it be that worship, in the truly Biblical sense, goes far beyond just music on a Sunday morning? What might it look like for worship to become an ‘all-of-live' endeavour. In this episode, we're joined by Steve McCready as we reframe worship.

After a long hiatus, the Riverview Conversations Podcast is back! In this episode, Ryan and Rhys welcome a brand new host, Julia Wilson, and attempt to make sense of global and local events from the last 12 months.   

Are you an Introvert or Extrovert? Do you love structure or prefer chaos? Are you intrigued by personality insights or do you want to burn the whole thing down?  In this episode, Ryan and Rhys delve into the world of personality tests and explore the pros, cons, their own profile types, and try and make sense of it all.    Myers Briggs Type Indicator: https://www.myersbriggs.org/   Gallup Strengthsfinder: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx   Enneagram: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com   Working Genius: https://www.workinggenius.com/

Brad Jersak is the Faculty Dean of Theology & Culture at St. Stephen's University and author of the provocatively-titled, "A More Christlike God." In this conversation, we dive into our preconceived ideas of what God is like, be they inherited from tradition or personal projections, and why should view Jesus as "the decisive revelation and act of God in space and time."   "A More Christlike God" by Brad Jersak can be purchased at https://bradjersak.com/books/. 

Christianity, like any longstanding faith tradition, contains various unique customs and cultural practices. Some practices find their heritage in centuries of tradition, and some practices just got picked up along the way. Today, we spend some time with Clare Gageler, as we discuss liturgies, trends and self-awareness.   Join the Conversation: http://reddit.com/r/riverviewpodcast

The term "Evangelism" conjures up images of enormous rallies with charismatic preachers, awkward invitations to church, and peculiar pamphlets with apocalyptic writings; at times, it can all seem rather archaic. So, what we 'do' with evangelism in 2021?  Today, we talk with Dr Michael Frost about reframing evangelism and whether it's about "winning the lost at any cost" or perhaps something else. 

So often, the Fight To Be Right is the very thing that keeps us from loving like Jesus. Could it be that a biblical Christian life is not grounded in collecting the “right” answers, but rather in authentic, loving relationships with God and with others? Today we're joined by Jared Byas as we discuss truth, love and black swans. Jared is a biblical scholar, author and co-host of the popular podcast, The Bible for Normal People. 

In today's message from our guest speaker, Ps. David Storer, we examine our own preconceived illusions of who God is and take time to remind ourselves that God is far beyond anything we can imagine.

Every new generation has to face challenges and technologies that are unique to their own context and time. 'Whilst those challenges' may be specific to 'that generation', inevitably, every single one of us will journey the tough road from teenager to adult. In this episode, we sit down with Micah and Lizzie, from Riverview Youth, to discuss being young and growing up.

There is a common concern for justice in our world. For us to achieve this justice, however, we must first understand how God views it and the alternative visions of justice offered by the world around us. On today's episode, we're joined by Crown Prosecutor and Jesus-follower Richard Jenson, as we discuss justice, mercy and our unique part in the story of God.

Everyone has questions and doubts about Jesus. He has both answers, and questions, for us. Encounters with Jesus are meant to change and define us for the best, so how do you encounter Jesus when you can't get past your doubts about Him?

Money plays a significant role in our lives and Christians aren't exempt from the temptations of the 'root of all evil.' So why does Jesus talk about money so often and how does the Kingdom of God relate to our cash? Today we're joined by Friend of the Podcast, Brian Harris, as we explore the financial implications of faithfully following Jesus. 

In today's message from Aash Parmar, we explore how as followers of Christ, we are called to showcase a radical existence to a world looking to understand who Jesus is.

The Good News of Jesus is “the Kingdom of God has come near”. Jesus invites us, to follow him, as he reigns as King and recreates and renews his people and the world. To live under the rule and reign of King Jesus requires both a dangerous declaration and a radical reorientation of our lives and priorities. In Christ, our life prayer is “your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.”

Is there a way to walk faithfully through doubt and come out the other side with a deeper love for Jesus, the church and its tradition? Can we question our faith without losing it? This week, we're joined by A.J. Swoboda as we explore doubt, deconstruction and deep roots. A. J. Swoboda (PhD, University of Birmingham) is assistant professor of Bible, theology, and world Christianity at Bushnell University. He is the author of a number of books, including his latest book, After Doubt.

For thousands of years Christians have been promoting and proclaiming the message of Jesus through varied means and methods. In this episode, we are joined by former-adman and now-pastor, Jon Bryars, as we explore all things advertising, ethics and Jesus.

For better or worse, our beliefs about objects, events, and particularly relationships, pre-determine the way we approach and interact with them. In today's message from our guest speaker, Ps. Ken Lee, we look at Mark 5 and how our beliefs about Jesus impact how we experience relationship with Him.

The call to Christ is a call to community, and with community comes confrontation. As Jesus-followers, how do we handle conflict and disagreement in a healthy way? In this episode, we sit down with Zac Gageler and explore conflict, escapism, and the notion of ‘speaking the truth in love.'   Helpful Resources: Patrick Lencioni - 5 Dysfunctions of a Team Brene Brown - Dare to Lead Susan Scott - Fierce Conversations Edward DeBono - Six Thinking Hats Nicky Gumbel - The Jesus Lifestyle Kim Scott - Radical Candor Ed Catmull - Pixar Inc.  

The Bible is full of expressive Psalms that call us to "sing a new song", "break out in song", "clap our hands with joy", and "join all of creation in declaring God's goodness." In today's message, Zac Gageler explores Psalm 98 and outlines 5 attitudes we should cultivate to be ready to celebrate God with awe and wonder in worship.   

There are many things written about purpose, most of them coming from a perspective of personal agency. This message by Dr Tania Watson is a challenge to consider purpose as something that we find in God through Christ and experience as constant across our lives in any and all circumstances.

We often talk about "running the race" and "starting strong" – it would be a shame if we viewed that in a self-serving way. What's the point of starting strong if you finish poorly and ‘drop the baton'? In his message, Ryan Gageler explores what we can do to run our race well and to also ensure we pass the baton to the next generations.

Happy New Year, CONVERSATIONS friends! In our first episode for 2021, Ryan and Rhys dig into some "New Years Wrestlutions", probe for places to explore and evolve in faith, and peek at what burning questions lie ahead.

A lot has been said about the year 2020. Today, we sit down with Riverview Church's Senior Ministry Team; Tania Watson, Zac Gageler, and Aash Parmar, to take stock of the year that was. We examine the challenges, lessons we've learnt, and look for signs of hope for the future. 

In keeping with our previous "How Did We Get Here" episodes, Ryan Gageler and Rhys Machell delve in the backstory of all things Christmassy...with a bit of mistletoe, advertising, Nativity scenes, Boxing Day madness, and Love Actually thrown in for good measure! 

Through the story of Herod in Matthew 2, we see the danger of clinging to the throne at all costs. In today's message from Aash Parmar, we explore how this is upended by the birth of Christ, which calls us to surrender the throne to him.

You may have heard the formula "Expectations - Reality = Disappointment." We bring our individual Ideals and expectations to the Christian life and invariably, we hit disappointment head-on. In today's conversation with Riverview Church's Community Pastor, Paula Hadfield, we look at how Idealism rears its head in Christian life and how we might participate in creating a new reality. 

We all face unexpected situations and storms in life, be it financial, relational, or emotional. In Part II of Zac Gageler's message on the storms of life, we examine the second half of Paul's journey to Rome via ship in Acts 27, and how his actions in the storm brought encouragement to those he was with during the storm.

We all face unexpected situations and storms in life. Whether it be financial, relational, emotional or circumstantial, each of us will inevitably face a storm that we can't control. How we chose to respond will often determine whether we sink or swim, whether we survive or are broken by it. On his journey back to Rome, the Apostle Paul faces a significant storm, and from his experience, we draw some key principles that are God's encouragement to us in the storms of our own.

HOW DID WE GET HERE - Heaven and Hell. Every person imagines something different upon hearing of heaven and hell. Our perceptions of the afterlife, whether shaped by a biblical worldview, Greek mythology or mass media, will ultimately determine how we live, and what we value in this life. This week, we catch up with a friend of the podcast, Dr Michael Frost, to explore afterlife, salvation and avoiding the bad place.   Helpful Resources: Eternity is Now in Session – John Ortberg Justification – N. T. Wright The Great Divorce – C.S. Lewis The Bible Project Podcast The Rapture Drill Podcast

Experiencing loss is an inevitable part of life that ranges from mildly inconvenient to deeply painful. But what if every loss was an opportunity to gain? What if, in our unwanted losses, there lay an unexpected gain that meant we could think and feel about our losses differently? Jesus taught us that in the divine economy and in the light of eternity, losses and gains are evaluated very differently. In this message from Tim Healy, we find out exactly how having God at the centre of your life reframes your losses and transforms them into the ultimate gain.

"Living in the moment" is a maxim that sounds ideal and looks great on paper, but is a definite challenge, particularly when we engage in Mental Time Travel - replaying what could have been and fretting about what might be, over and over. In today's episode, Ryan and Rhys unpick the threads of control, worry, and how to be truly present in any given moment. 

King Solomon had more wisdom, wealth, and power than most of us will ever experience and he said it was all meaningless in the end. Zac Gageler tackles the idea around Materialism and how it suggests that more stuff brings more happiness, but God doesn't call us to a life of more-ness – He calls us to a life of fullness.

Have you ever wondered if what you believe is really true? We live in a world filled with scepticism so how do we live in such a way that we neither ignore it nor get intimidated by it? In this message from Tim Healy, we explore faith in a sceptical world and how followers of Jesus can live in response to the uncertainty inherent in their beliefs.

The way we perceive the world and live out our lives is profoundly informed by our ‘book-end theology' – the way we view Genesis and Revelation. So, what are we to make of the first few chapters of Genesis as we view them in their cultural and historical setting, and how should that reframed perspective transform the way we view human identity, vocation and the Gospel message? In this episode, Professor Rikk Watts contributes to the conversation by unpacking Creation as God's Temple.

The conventional wisdom we find through in the Proverbs is extremely helpful as we navigate life, but can be challenging when we face unfair and unexplained hardship. Today as we explore the book of Job, we are met with questions of suffering, righteousness and reason, and we begin to we discover that the Fear of God sits at the foundation of all Wisdom.

We're all heading somewhere - a pilgrimage is a journey to an uncertain or foreign place, where we seek meaning and transformation through the experience. To go on a journey without being changed is to simply be a tourist, however, to journey and to be transformed by the journey is to be a pilgrim. In this episode, we're joined by Dr Tania Watson, as we explore the ageless pilgrim practice, and how life and faith might better best understood as a pilgrimage.

"Wisdom is most crucial when we are not obliged to use it." In today's message, Aash Parmar explores this thought using the story of Saul, David, and Doeg found in 1 Samuel 22.

The Bible has been the source of much debate and conflict. For millennia, the Bible has been cited and leveraged for conquest, violence and manipulation; and yet, those same texts have been used for social justice, human rights and to build strong communities of faith, hope and love. In today's episode, we take some time to consider How Did We Get Here in relation to The Bible. What is the purpose of these ancient texts, and who decided what was in and what was out? How does divine inspiration work, and how should we interpret this seemingly nuanced text?   Helpful Resources: The Bible Project - Podcast The Bible for Normal - People Podcast How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart How the Bible Actually Works by Pete Enns The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight

In a world filled with corruption, manipulation and self-serving interest, integrity stands out like a bright shining light. In his latest message, our Senior Minister Tim Healy explores what integrity is, why it matters, and how all of us can to grow in integrity in every area of life.

There is a commonality in facing relational, financial, and even health crisis, however, what do we do when we experience faith crisis? When the stories we use to make sense of the world are challenged by circumstance, experience or questions, we can often feel disoriented. This week we're joined by New Zealand theologian and podcaster, Dr Michael Frost, as we discuss what happens when faith and life go-off script.

Growing in wisdom is a lifelong journey that starts at a surprisingly young age. In this message, our Senior Minister Tim Healy shares three key habits from the life and example of Jesus that, when embraced and practised, ensure we will continue to grow in the wisdom of God for every area of life.

You may have heard "a cliche is a cliche for a reason." Taking our cue from that less-than-great banality, we talk with one of our gifted team leaders, Clare Gageler, and dig into our faith tradition's maxims, platitudes, and conversational tics to see what lies beneath. 

Reading through a Bible story from the book of John of a blind man's healing, Aash Parmar explores the idea that whilst answers bring peace to circumstances, surrender creates a mindset of peacefulness for life.

God has sent us into the world to be His agents and ambassadors and to bring hope, help, and healing to the oppressed and afflicted. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in us is the key to doing all that God has called us to do and being all that He desires us to be. In this message from our Senior Minister, Tim Healy, we discover how the Holy Spirit works both in us and through us to make us bold, effective, and attractive as followers of Jesus.

God's desire has always been to dwell with His people. In this message from Ryan Gageler, we explore how God's presence is no longer limited to a specific place. Today, through Christ, we are carriers of the Holy Spirit (Living Temples) who hold and reveal the presence, power and purposes of God to the world.

What ought we to do in seasons where there is deep disruption and uncertainty? Something of the answer to that question lies in the story of the first followers of Jesus, who found themselves facing a similar situation. In this message from our Senior Minister, Tim Healy, we discover how the early church responded to their unique season of disruption and gain valuable insight for ours.

Thanks for listening to Conversations. Today, Ryan Gageler and Rhys Machell provide an update.

Are you concerned about the unfairness and inequality that is so prevalent in the world today? Does it make you sad or leave you feeling angry? If so, you are not alone. These things break the heart of God. The Bible teaches us that there is an indispensable link between being generous and pursuing justice. In this message, Tim Healy encourages us to give generously and courageously as we fulfil our mandate to live out love in Jesus name.

Western society is shaped by the pursuit of personal preference. The folly of endless consumerism sends us on a wild goose-chase for happiness. So, how has an on-demand, online access, supermarket culture shaped our faith? Today, we're joined by friend of the Podcast, Brian Harris, as we discuss the complexities and pitfalls of Consumer Christianity.