Podcast appearances and mentions of John Dickson

Aon Edge President and CEO John Dickson discusses how rising flood exposure, shifting weather patterns and growing protection gaps are reshaping underwriting, risk management and coverage strategies across the insurance industry.

Wes Huff has made the historical case for Christianity to an audience of millions on some of the biggest podcasts in the world, including the Joe Rogan Experience and Diary of a CEO. It's fair to say he's having a bit of a moment.But is all this big-name podcast interest in Christianity evidence of something deeper? Is Christianity itself having more than just a moment?FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERECREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.  Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.  Lyndie Leviston remains my wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.  Peter Kozushko is our North American representative. Editing by Richard Hamwi. Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.  Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.  Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Is it ok for a Christian to enjoy secular music? Why did Jesus have to get baptised? And how does the church's teaching on money compare to what the Bible actually teaches about it? It's Q&A time again at Undeceptions!FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERECREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.  Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.  Lyndie Leviston remains my wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.  Peter Kozushko is our North American representative. Editing by Richard Hamwi. Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry, Producer Kaley, and Director Mark.  Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.  Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Join us as we dig deeper into last Sunday's sermon from Pastor Gabe Kasper "The Other Mary" and hear from Amy Duncan and Nate Zuellig on "There Is A King". Digging Deeper Questions:  The historian John Dickson says, People don't make their minds up about big things based only on evidence…but based on a mix of evidence…assumptions and experiences, preferences and prejudices. Do you agree with Dickson? What determines what you believe about big things?    Have you ever felt like "the other Mary?" What are some of the ways we respond to that feeling?   The angel gave Mary the purpose of proclaiming the resurrection, where are the places you feel God has most given you purpose?   The Marys fall at Jesus' feet and worship him when they encounter him. What does worship look like for you?   Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:1-10 1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."   Intro/Outro Song: "Only One" Nate Zuellig ULC Artist In Residence    "There Is A King" Elevation Worship CCLI Song # 7138218   CCLI License # 11254293

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “What If,” with Dr. Jared Nelms and Dr. John Dickson. Dr. Jared Nelms joined us to discuss Titus 2, what true discipleship looks like through the grace of God, and how it calls us not just to know the truth, but to live it out. Dr. Nelms is the President and CEO of The Timothy Initiative, leading efforts to plant churches in unreached regions by training indigenous leaders. He previously served as a missionary in India and has extensive experience in global ministry across Asia and Africa. We then had Dr. John Dickson join us to discuss who Flavius Josephus was, the writings he left behind, and how new findings support the Testimonium Flavianum as a legitimate reference to Jesus. Dr. Dickson is an author, speaker, historian, and media presenter, and serves as the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College. He has published more than 20 books and hosts the Undeceptions podcast, one of Australia’s top Christian podcasts with a growing global audience. We then turned to the text messages to hear from our listeners. We asked the question, “What is your next step of obedience? What is God calling you to walk away from today?” We prayed for everyone who responded, asking God to strengthen them in obedience and lead them by His grace. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Jared Nelms [ 44:12 ]Dr. John Dickson [ 25:47 ]Text Segment [ 00:52 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “What If,” with Dr. Jared Nelms and Dr. John Dickson. Dr. Jared Nelms joined us to discuss Titus 2, what true discipleship looks like through the grace of God, and how it calls us not just to know the truth, but to live it out. Dr. Nelms is the President and CEO of The Timothy Initiative, leading efforts to plant churches in unreached regions by training indigenous leaders. He previously served as a missionary in India and has extensive experience in global ministry across Asia and Africa. We then had Dr. John Dickson join us to discuss who Flavius Josephus was, the writings he left behind, and how new findings support the Testimonium Flavianum as a legitimate reference to Jesus. Dr. Dickson is an author, speaker, historian, and media presenter, and serves as the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College. He has published more than 20 books and hosts the Undeceptions podcast, one of Australia’s top Christian podcasts with a growing global audience. We then turned to the text messages to hear from our listeners. We asked the question, “What is your next step of obedience? What is God calling you to walk away from today?” We prayed for everyone who responded, asking God to strengthen them in obedience and lead them by His grace. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Jared Nelms [ 44:12 ]Dr. John Dickson [ 25:47 ]Text Segment [ 00:52 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “What If,” with Dr. Jared Nelms and Dr. John Dickson. Dr. Jared Nelms joined us to discuss Titus 2, what true discipleship looks like through the grace of God, and how it calls us not just to know the truth, but to live it out. Dr. Nelms is the President and CEO of The Timothy Initiative, leading efforts to plant churches in unreached regions by training indigenous leaders. He previously served as a missionary in India and has extensive experience in global ministry across Asia and Africa. We then had Dr. John Dickson join us to discuss who Flavius Josephus was, the writings he left behind, and how new findings support the Testimonium Flavianum as a legitimate reference to Jesus. Dr. Dickson is an author, speaker, historian, and media presenter, and serves as the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College. He has published more than 20 books and hosts the Undeceptions podcast, one of Australia’s top Christian podcasts with a growing global audience. We then turned to the text messages to hear from our listeners. We asked the question, “What is your next step of obedience? What is God calling you to walk away from today?” We prayed for everyone who responded, asking God to strengthen them in obedience and lead them by His grace. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Jared Nelms [ 44:12 ]Dr. John Dickson [ 25:47 ]Text Segment [ 00:52 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “What If,” with Dr. Jared Nelms and Dr. John Dickson. Dr. Jared Nelms joined us to discuss Titus 2, what true discipleship looks like through the grace of God, and how it calls us not just to know the truth, but to live it out. Dr. Nelms is the President and CEO of The Timothy Initiative, leading efforts to plant churches in unreached regions by training indigenous leaders. He previously served as a missionary in India and has extensive experience in global ministry across Asia and Africa. We then had Dr. John Dickson join us to discuss who Flavius Josephus was, the writings he left behind, and how new findings support the Testimonium Flavianum as a legitimate reference to Jesus. Dr. Dickson is an author, speaker, historian, and media presenter, and serves as the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College. He has published more than 20 books and hosts the Undeceptions podcast, one of Australia’s top Christian podcasts with a growing global audience. We then turned to the text messages to hear from our listeners. We asked the question, “What is your next step of obedience? What is God calling you to walk away from today?” We prayed for everyone who responded, asking God to strengthen them in obedience and lead them by His grace. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Jared Nelms [ 44:12 ]Dr. John Dickson [ 25:47 ]Text Segment [ 00:52 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “What If,” with Dr. Jared Nelms and Dr. John Dickson. Dr. Jared Nelms joined us to discuss Titus 2, what true discipleship looks like through the grace of God, and how it calls us not just to know the truth, but to live it out. Dr. Nelms is the President and CEO of The Timothy Initiative, leading efforts to plant churches in unreached regions by training indigenous leaders. He previously served as a missionary in India and has extensive experience in global ministry across Asia and Africa. We then had Dr. John Dickson join us to discuss who Flavius Josephus was, the writings he left behind, and how new findings support the Testimonium Flavianum as a legitimate reference to Jesus. Dr. Dickson is an author, speaker, historian, and media presenter, and serves as the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College. He has published more than 20 books and hosts the Undeceptions podcast, one of Australia’s top Christian podcasts with a growing global audience. We then turned to the text messages to hear from our listeners. We asked the question, “What is your next step of obedience? What is God calling you to walk away from today?” We prayed for everyone who responded, asking God to strengthen them in obedience and lead them by His grace. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Jared Nelms [ 44:12 ]Dr. John Dickson [ 25:47 ]Text Segment [ 00:52 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “What If,” with Dr. Jared Nelms and Dr. John Dickson. Dr. Jared Nelms joined us to discuss Titus 2, what true discipleship looks like through the grace of God, and how it calls us not just to know the truth, but to live it out. Dr. Nelms is the President and CEO of The Timothy Initiative, leading efforts to plant churches in unreached regions by training indigenous leaders. He previously served as a missionary in India and has extensive experience in global ministry across Asia and Africa. We then had Dr. John Dickson join us to discuss who Flavius Josephus was, the writings he left behind, and how new findings support the Testimonium Flavianum as a legitimate reference to Jesus. Dr. Dickson is an author, speaker, historian, and media presenter, and serves as the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College. He has published more than 20 books and hosts the Undeceptions podcast, one of Australia’s top Christian podcasts with a growing global audience. We then turned to the text messages to hear from our listeners. We asked the question, “What is your next step of obedience? What is God calling you to walk away from today?” We prayed for everyone who responded, asking God to strengthen them in obedience and lead them by His grace. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Jared Nelms [ 44:12 ]Dr. John Dickson [ 25:47 ]Text Segment [ 00:52 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “What If,” with Dr. Jared Nelms and Dr. John Dickson. Dr. Jared Nelms joined us to discuss Titus 2, what true discipleship looks like through the grace of God, and how it calls us not just to know the truth, but to live it out. Dr. Nelms is the President and CEO of The Timothy Initiative, leading efforts to plant churches in unreached regions by training indigenous leaders. He previously served as a missionary in India and has extensive experience in global ministry across Asia and Africa. We then had Dr. John Dickson join us to discuss who Flavius Josephus was, the writings he left behind, and how new findings support the Testimonium Flavianum as a legitimate reference to Jesus. Dr. Dickson is an author, speaker, historian, and media presenter, and serves as the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College. He has published more than 20 books and hosts the Undeceptions podcast, one of Australia’s top Christian podcasts with a growing global audience. We then turned to the text messages to hear from our listeners. We asked the question, “What is your next step of obedience? What is God calling you to walk away from today?” We prayed for everyone who responded, asking God to strengthen them in obedience and lead them by His grace. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Jared Nelms [ 44:12 ]Dr. John Dickson [ 25:47 ]Text Segment [ 00:52 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Oxford English Dictionary describes the Bible as a “library,” not a single work.But this library has been the most sold book in the world for millennia!So should we call this ultimate best-seller “literature”?There are many ways to read the Bible. But reading it as literature may help us see something easily missed: the Bible isn't just a collection of texts any more than a symphony is just a collection of notes.The literary approach asks a simple question: how might the Bible's story work on us?FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERECREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.  Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.  Lyndie Leviston remains my wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.  Peter Kozushko is our North American representative. Editing by Richard Hamwi. Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.  Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.  Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”.This seems obvious to us today, but many people throughout history didn't believe in these ideals.Many would wonder how it could be that every human being, regardless of capacity or usefulness, could be considered equally valuable.Truth be told, it's hard to find the logic behind the Universal Declaration of Human Rights anywhere in historical literature … apart from the Bible.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERECREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.  Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.  Lyndie Leviston remains my wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.  Peter Kozushko is our North American representative. Editing by Richard Hamwi. Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.  Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.  Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

eries: God's Promises, Our JourneyTitle: "Can God really restore what's broken?Scripture: Genesis 1:31-3:15, John 19:38-20:1-18 NIV Bottom Line: Because of the cross and resurrection, what was broken by sin can be restored by Jesus—if we repent, believe, and receive Him.In fact, it will be restored for the Church. The real question today is will it be restored for you?INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONDISCUSSION QUESTIONSNOTESYOUTUBE DESCRIPTIONMAIN REFERENCES USEDMy opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTIONMarvel Universe“If you've ever watched the Marvel movies, you know they're not just random, disconnected stories.At first, it feels like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor—they all have their own separate plots.But as the story unfolds, you realize… it's all connected.Every movie is part of a much bigger story that's building toward one climactic moment.The Bible works the same way.It's made up of dozens of books, written over centuries, with different people and settings—but it's telling one unified story.And that story moves from creation… to brokenness… to redemption… to restoration.Today, we're going to step into two scenes in that story—two gardens—and see how everything connects… and how it connects to your life.”OUTLINE (With help from ChatGPT)I. Name the room: “We Know Something Is Broken”Some of you walked in here celebrating...others are carrying heavy burdens• Loss (recent deaths)• Marriages under strain• Financial anxiety• Health struggles• Relationships in crisis“You don't need a theology degree to know something is wrong with the world… you just need to live in it for a while.”“The Bible tells one story that explains all of it—and offers one solution that can heal it.”II. Eden: Where brokenness began (Genesis 1:31-3:15)God designed life to be good and whole (Genesis 1:31-2:25)Sin shattered what God made whole. (Genesis 3)• Relationship with God → broken• Relationship with each other → broken• Relationship with self → broken• Relationship with creation → brokenTie directly to today:“Every funeral, every divorce, every anxiety… traces back to this moment.”Share the 3 Circles here--Link: https://youtu.be/5W8ynRMr59k?si=6FZMytsIOhLmbQib“So the question is not: Is there brokenness?The question is: How do we get out of it?”III. Cross/Good Friday - Jesus enters our brokenness on the cross (where sin was paid for)Bring them to the cross.• Jesus doesn't ignore brokenness—He enters it• He carries:• Our sin• Our shame• Our sufferingIV. Resurrection/The Garden Tomb - Where restoration begins (John 19:38--20:1-18)Jesus didn't just die—He rose to restore.• The tomb is in a garden• Mary mistakes Jesus for the gardener (John 20:15)That's not accidental.“In Eden, humanity lost the garden. In the resurrection, the Gardener begins restoring it.”Tie her in personally:• Delivered from demons → deeply broken• At the cross → grieving• At the tomb → confused• Encounters Jesus → transformedKey moment:“Jesus said her name—‘Mary'—and everything changed.”V. Connect to OUR Story“Some of you feel like your story is too far gone…”Apply specifically:• “Your marriage…”• “Your past…”• “Your regrets…”• “Your grief…”Then:“If Jesus can walk out of a grave, He can step into your situation.”Name their pain again—but now with hope:• Grief → “Death is not the end”• Broken marriages → “God restores what seems beyond repair”• Anxiety → “You are not alone in the garden”• Shame → “Jesus already carried it to the cross”Power line:“The same Jesus who called Mary by name is calling your name today.”VI. Call to RespondA. REPENTTurn from sin and self-ruleB. BELIEVETrust what Jesus did on the cross and resurrectionC. RECEIVESurrender to Him as Lord and SaviorTie to Romans 10:9–10VII. How baptism fits“Earlier in the service, you saw people baptized—that's a picture of this very thing.”Tie to gospel:“Buried with Christ… raised to new life.”Then pivot immediately:“But baptism doesn't start the story—Jesus does.”VIII. Closing ImageBring it back to gardens:“We lost everything in a garden…Jesus paid for it on a cross…And in a garden, He began making all things new.”Then:“The question is not: Is restoration possible?The question is: Will you come to the Gardener?”John 15:1-5 "my Father is the Gardener"As we move to celebrate the cross and resurrection through the Lord's Supper, where he instituted a perpetual reminder, we pause to confess our sins to a holy God, repenting of those sins, believing Jesus forgives and saves, and receiving the gift of salvation by grace through faith in him alone.Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?PrayDISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastNOTESIntroduction (long version, but here it is stream of consciousness)Marvel Studios turned their company around when they began making superhero movies. (Tell this story briefly how they went from near bankrupcy to box office success through the risk taking of Kevin Fahge and the first Iron Man movie) The idea became a series of movies (22?) that fit under the banner of phases 1-4 of the Avengers. (?) What makes this franchise pretty unique is that all 22 of these movies fit into a larger story arc that covered many (15 years?) years. Each superhero origin story and sequel contributed to the meta-story arc resulting in one of the most successful movie franchises of all time. Why do I share this with you? Because it is very much like what the Bible represents in it's library of 66 books with dozens of origin stories all pointing to the meta-story arc from Genesis 1-2 through Revelation 21-22. The story: Creation-->Fall-->Redemption-->Restoration. As I was preparing for today, I ran across this quip by author Leonard Sweet:"How can a church silence or stifle the voices of women when you can't tell the story of Holy Week without hearing the voices of women?"I'd already been considering the 2 gardens--2 women idea when I read that and sensed God confirming my direction.As I was trying to decide what to preach this Easter Sunday, I seriously considered continuing through our Genesis series. But Sodom and Gomorrah. Not your typical "Positive and uplifting" Easter fodder. Earlier that week, my wife gently suggested that it might be good to preach a resurrection sermon on resurrection day. Ha! So, believing that that was from the Lord, I pivoted to John 20:1-18, dipping back into that deep well of truth John writes about so well. And there I found a woman. Mary Magdalene or Mary from the town of Magdala. Tradition says she was a prostitute, though scripture does not back that up. However, she was demonically possessed. In Mark and Luke we read where Jesus delivered her from not 1, not 2 but 7 demons. She was thoroughly and completely enslaved to demons. Is anything too difficult for God?She then begins to follow Jesus, though women were not permitted to be disciples formally. She was apparently a woman of some means. She followed Jesus and supported his ministry both financially and personally with all her time. She was as devoted as any of the twelve disciples were. In John 20, we find her devotion unwavering as she approaches the tomb early Sunday morning. It's before dark as she heads to the tomb. Hence, many participate in sunrise services every Easter. At some point, 3 other ladies join her at the tomb. And none of them know how they'll actually get into the tomb with a giant bolder rolled in place to keep people out. Yet here she is. Here they will gather. But let's focus on Mary of Magdala. In a garden. Joseph of Arimethia's tomb was in or near a garden. In fact, when Mary sees the resurrected Jesus at first, she thinks he's the gardener (v. 15).What was lost in the Garden of Eden will begin to be restored at the tomb in another garden...a garden near Golgotha, the place of the skull. And if you think it's weird to have a garden close to tombs, think about cemetaries today. We cultivate gardens with flowers around them headstones and around the grounds. We want people to rest in a beatiful place symbolic of the most beautiful place they will (hopefully) end up in...the new heaven and the new earth.We'll go back in time another 2,000 years to another garden and another woman. Eve, in the Garden of Eden, will disobey her father. She'll crave, take and then eat a piece of forbidden fruit, share a piece with Adam, and thrust humanity into darkness. We'll see the Fall of humanity in that moment where brokenness on earth began. We'll also see a promise made by God to Adam and Eve. A promise that the "Seed" of Eve will make things new again. Will reverse the curse and re-establish a new garden and a new city. We'll begin to see that we're in a meta-story. One that began with Creation that was good. (Genesis 1:31) We are in the part of the story between Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22. The bookends, if you will, of this meta-story. ZBrokenness begins in Genesis 3. Restoration begins in John 19-20.The Bible tells one story that explains all of it. Good to broken to Good again.The Bible is one story. His-story. History. The 66 books of the Bible include origin stories that all point to the meta-story. After all, it's the one story that matters most of all. But our story fits underneath this story arc. Our story matters. Our story is still being written today. How will it end?“To quote another German one Nietzsche would have deeply disagreed with, the great Martin Hengel of the University of Tübingen concluded his groundbreaking study of the origins of the New Testament idea of atonement with these words. Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples, and in it, in a symbolic action, he related the broken bread to the breaking of his body, and at the end of the meal the wine in the cup of blessing to the pouring out of his blood, through which the new eschatological covenant with God would be founded, and atonement would be achieved for all. A story is told about the late Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Martini, and man, I hope it's an accurate story.The Cardinalʼs ConfessionApparently, in a public lecture years ago, he told this lovely anecdote. He said he knew of three young men in Rome years before, who spent a debauched night out on the town together, which ended with them all sitting drunk on the steps of an old church in Rome. And high above them, they noticed on the outside wall of the church, there was a huge crucifix.For a moment, they looked up at it, remembering the lessons from their childhood, and then one of them gave a dare. One of us should go in, find the priest on duty, and confess to him all the terrible things we've done tonight, and shock him by inventing further sins, and then just as a joke, do whatever penance he offers. One of them piped up and said he'd do it.So he walked in, found the elderly priest on duty, sat down, and in excruciating detail began to describe all of the actual sins of the evening, and then some of the invented ones, hardly holding back the mockery. The priest apparently just listened patiently, and then said, I want you to do something for me. Outside our church is a large statue of Jesus on a cross.He died for your sins. I want you to go down the front steps of the church, turn around, point your finger at it, and say out loud, I know what you've done, and I don't give a damn.Will you do that?It didn't sound like any penance the boy had heard about before, but he thought he'd give it a go. He ran outside. His friends were eager to hear what happened.He walked down the steps. He turned around, and sure enough, there's the statue that somehow looked bigger and more serious than he remembered. And he pointed his finger at it and rehearsed in his mind the words, I know what you've done and I don't give a damn.He couldn't do it. In fact, in front of his friends, he knelt down on the steps in remorse and respect. Now, when the Bishop of Milan told this story, he ended by saying, I want you to know this story is true.I was that young man in Rome 40 years ago, and it was the pivotal moment of my life. What was it that changed him? Well, not a piece of religious penance, but confronting his guilt and shame while looking at the cross.And my question this Easter, dear listeners, is how would you finish the sentence in the light of Good Friday? I know what you've done, and… For some, I'm sure it's going to be, and I don't give a damn.For others, it might be, I need more time to think about it. For others, thank you. Thank you for Good Friday.Good beyond compare.On Undeceptions Podcast.”From Undeceptions with John Dickson: 173. Good Friday, Mar 29, 2026https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/undeceptions-with-john-dickson/id1478239058?i=1000758071210&r=3294YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION Series: God's Promises, Our JourneyTitle: Can God Really Restore What's Broken?Scripture: Genesis 2:18–25; John 19:41–20:18What if the Bible isn't a collection of disconnected stories—but one unified story pointing to Jesus?In this Easter message, Pastor Darien Gabriel walks us from one garden to another—from the Garden of Eden, where brokenness began, to the garden tomb, where restoration began through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.We all feel it—grief, broken relationships, anxiety, regret. The question is: Can anything truly restore what's been lost?Through the cross and resurrection, we discover that Jesus doesn't just meet us in our brokenness—He makes a way to restore us.This message includes a clear, visual presentation of the gospel using the “3 Circles” and a powerful look at the story of Mary Magdalene, the first witness to the risen Christ.If you're searching for hope, healing, or a fresh start—this message is for you.⸻Bottom Line:Because of the cross and resurrection, what was broken by sin can be restored by Jesus—if we repent, believe, and receive Him.⸻Next Steps:If you made a decision to follow Jesus or want to learn more, we'd love to connect with you.

The gap between skepticism and faith starts to close when Christianity is viewed through the lens of history. In this conversation with Andy Stanley and John Dickson, the story of Jesus is presented as something meant to be investigated, not avoided.

It's hard to get a clear picture of the historical Jesus without projecting cultural tropes onto Him.Jesus - perhaps more than anyone in history - is often co-opted to fit either personal or political agendas.So this Easter, we're trying to untangle the cultural Jesus from the real historical Jesus - by zeroing in on his famous last few days.CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Peter Kozushko is our North American representative and a point of contact for church pastors interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.  Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actorS today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love. Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

The gap between skepticism and faith starts to close when Christianity is viewed through the lens of history. In this conversation with Andy Stanley and John Dickson, the story of Jesus is presented as something meant to be investigated, not avoided.

The gap between skepticism and faith starts to close when Christianity is viewed through the lens of history. In this conversation with Andy Stanley and John Dickson, the story of Jesus is presented as something meant to be investigated, not avoided.

The gap between skepticism and faith starts to close when Christianity is viewed through the lens of history. In this conversation with Andy Stanley and John Dickson, the story of Jesus is presented as something meant to be investigated, not avoided.

The gap between skepticism and faith starts to close when Christianity is viewed through the lens of history. In this conversation with Andy Stanley and John Dickson, the story of Jesus is presented as something meant to be investigated, not avoided.

The gap between skepticism and faith starts to close when Christianity is viewed through the lens of history. In this conversation with Andy Stanley and John Dickson, the story of Jesus is presented as something meant to be investigated, not avoided.

There's a certain collection of Greek and Roman writings - from roughly 800 BC to AD 200 - which, apart from the Bible, has shaped the Western world more than any other intellectual tradition.Today, we call them the Classics.Many are familiar with the names behind these ancient texts: Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Livy … the list goes on.But just because these works have a legacy doesn't mean that people today actually like them.For starters, they're hard work. Mark Twain once described a Classic as “something that everybody wants to have read, and nobody wants to read”.Others dislike the very concept of the Classics because they privilege the writings of (presumably) white men over other rich, non-Western traditions.But like it or not, the Classics still matter in their own right today - especially if you're interested in Christianity.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - click hereCREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Peter Kozushko is our North American representative and a point of contact for church pastors interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.  Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love. Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

The First Hymn is coming to the big screens on both sides of the Atlantic!Find tickets here.

In this episode of the Faith Film Fan Podcast, Rick Altizer talks with historian and filmmaker Dr. John Dickson about THE FIRST HYMN — a powerful documentary uncovering the oldest known Christian hymn, dating back to the 200s AD.Hear how this ancient song, discovered on Egyptian papyrus with original musical notation, was brought back to life and reimagined with modern worship artists like Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding. From global filming locations to a live performance in front of thousands, this episode explores the unique blend of history, faith, and music behind the film. See THE FIRST HYMN in theaters March 24 & 26! Get tickets, watch the trailer and learn more at faithfilmfan.com. 

The cultural hangovers of Christianity are well attested.Recently, people who were once describing themselves as ‘New Atheists' have gone as far as to call themselves ‘Cultural Christians', due to the prevalence of Christian thought in modern ethics.But what if the great dream of the New Atheists eventually succeeded?What would a world where God was actually dead look like?FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - click here.CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Peter Kozushko is our North American representative and a point of contact for church pastors interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.  Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actor today was Dakotah Love. Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Special thanks to Undeceptions Season 16 major sponsor Zondervan Academic. Since Charles Darwin's 1859 book On the Origin of Species, evolution has been considered by many to be the final nail in the coffin of religion.Because evolution is supposedly random - or indeed, blind - the argument follows that there is no design.But recently, a quiet revolution has been raging among the top tier of evolutionary scientists.The apparent randomness of evolution has come into question, and some experts now suggest there may be patterns, agency, and even intention behind it all.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - click here.CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Peter Kozushko is our North American representative and a point of contact for church pastors interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.  Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actor today was Dakotah Love. Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out. Undeceptions sponsors: Zondervan AcademicAnglican AidSelah Travel 

Special thanks to Undeceptions Season 16 major sponsor Zondervan Academic. A popular myth is that when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, he forced everyone else to embrace the faith - or else face deadly consequences.But this couldn't be further from the truth.It was under Constantine that the very modern-sounding ideas of freedom of religion and “justice for all” were first instituted.These were revolutionary ideals, and they came from a very smart, learned Christian in the Emperor's inner circle.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - https://undeceptions.com/podcast/against-coercion/(00:00) - - One of history's great persuaders (07:50) - - Persecution and the Crisis of the Third Century (11:25) - - Christianity and Neoplatonism (19:17) - - Lactantius: The Christian Cicero (32:34) - - Lactantius and Constantine (40:50) - - Constantine and religious tolerance (49:30) - - Arguing Christian ethics from pagan philosophy (53:05) - - Freedom of religion and Thomas Jefferson (57:48) - - Lactantius and justice (01:09:09) - - Five Minute Jesus (01:13:38) - - Lactantius' legacy CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Peter Kozushko is our North American representative and a point of contact for church pastors interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.  Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love. Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out. Undeceptions sponsors: Zondervan AcademicAnglican AidSelah Travel 

Special thanks to Undeceptions Season 16 major sponsor Zondervan Academic. In pop culture, we often enjoy watching - or reading - vice and virtue play out, with the former often far more exciting than the latter.But what about real life? Do we still find vice “sizzling” (as one writer described it), and virtue stale?At the heart of this lies a much deeper question: What good is there in pursuing the good?CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Peter Kozushko is our North American representative, a contact point for church pastors who are interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.  Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love. Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out Undeceptions sponsors: Zondervan AcademicAnglican AidSelah Travel 

The Reformation remains a pivotal moment not just for the church, but for global history. It permanently split the church, triggered wars, created new city-states, and even led, in the opinion of many experts, to the Enlightenment, Science, and the secularisation of the West.When it came to covering the topic on Undeceptions, there was so much to talk about that we needed two episodes just to scratch the surface.In this Rewind, we're revisiting some highlights of those episodes.

On November 2, 2024, Chris Tomlin performed the world premiere of The First Hymn at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Ben Fielding joined him onstage that night to help gift this 1800-year-old song back to the world. In this special, shorter episode, you get a front row seat to a fireside chat with Chris as he introduces the new First Hymn to the world, for the first time. 

Welcome to “From Hello to Home,” a series where we explore what it means to create a church where everyone feels welcome and belongs. Whether you're new to Beyond Church or have been part of our community for years, we're glad you're here.

For skeptics and unbelievers, the idea that the Christian Church has an "image problem" doesn't quite capture it. For defenders of the faith, it's important to be able to recognize the good and bad in the church's history and be inspired to live aligned with Christ. Ed Stetzer talks with John Dickson about his book, Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History and the challenges facing Christians today in a world that sometimes disregards God. They'll talk about the trials and the hope for the church on Ed Stetzer Live. Ed Stetzer Live is a listener supported program. To donate, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer Live, click here. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/edstetzerliveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We attempt to make sense of the silly season, to explain why there really is “more to life”, and why the traditional Christmas story still holds the answers.(00:00) - - Unwanted Christmas cards (04:41) - - Diagnosing our festive illness (08:49) - - Happiness or peace? (10:35) - - Jesus the umpire (13:10) - - The Prince of Peace (18:55) - - Christmas and the Gulag Archipelago (22:56) - - Christmas is good enough without Jesus, right? (30:39) - - Jesus turns his face towards us CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actors today were the Undeceptions Team - wishing you a happy Christmas!Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

It's probably the most significant of all church history's debates: Was Jesus fully human, fully divine, or a hybrid of some sort?1700 years ago, bishops from across the Christian world gathered in the city of Nicaea to settle this once and for all.The outcome was three paragraphs which went on to represent the core of Christianity, and spell out who Jesus is - and who he isn't.(00:00) - - Jesus: Man or something else? (08:44) - - Why did the Creed happen? (12:19) - - Constantine's influence (17:18) - - The key players at the council (31:23) - - The Arian controversy (43:40) - - The Trinity (59:52) - - Five Minute Jesus (01:04:26) - - Faith and the Creed (01:07:22) - - Why does the Creed matter? CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Introducing: UNDISTRACTED is a place where life isn’t just lived, but crafted. On UNDISTRACTED we explore the lives and expertise of our guests to help us become better at building our lives with intention. Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. Historian, author and theologian John Dickson joins us to talk about The First Hymn—a new documentary uncovering the oldest known Christian song. Combining his love of ancient history and music, John explores how this 1,800-year-old hymn was rediscovered, reimagined, and returned to the church in a new way.Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first-century historian Flavius Josephus is the oldest source we have for the historical Jesus outside of the Bible.His 90-word paragraph about Jesus - where he calls Jesus “the Christ”, and says Jesus “appeared to them [the disciples] alive again on the third day", spending a third day restored to life - has sparked centuries of debate.Most experts think this paragraph has an authentic core, but has been embellished by a later Christian scribe.But new scholarly evidence has emerged that might turn our understanding of Josephus - and what he wrote about Jesus - on its head.(00:00) - - 90 Words (10:39) - - Flavius Josephus (14:20) - - Traitor or pragmatist? (23:46) - - Josephus and James (27:59) - - Testamonium Flavianum (43:20) - - "Would Josephus really write that?" (58:44) - - Josephus' networks (01:11:42) - - What did Josephus really say about Jesus? (01:16:43) - - What did Josephus really think about Jesus? (01:18:50) - - Rethinking history CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Why don't Christians still follow the Laws of the Old Testament? Why did God create humans if so many are apparently destined for Hell? Is the ‘Golden Rule' actually a Christian idea? John answers all these - and more - for our Season XV Q&A!(00:00) - - Intro (05:12) - - Why don't Christians still follow the Old Testament Law? (14:49) - - Deep reading for non-readers (19:41) - - Are Christians allowed to practise Old Testament laments post-Jesus? (23:31) - - Why would God create a species destined for Hell? (34:19) - - Why does the modern church look so different compared to the first-century church? (41:48) - - Why did Joseph and Mary have to go to Bethlehem? (52:56) - - The Golden Rule CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne, and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is the online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Christianity no longer has the cultural sway it once held. But there's always been a long tradition of Christians being flexible in engaging their culture—whether in ancient Rome, Viking Scandinavia, or modern America. So what does a ‘relevant' Christianity look like in the 21st century?CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actors for this episode were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Back in 2020, John caught up with author and journalist Greg Sheridan to talk about Christianity's struggles in both Australia, and the global West more broadly. However, Greg wasn't so glum on the future of the faith in a post-Christian world. Ahead of an upcoming episode on how the gospel applies to a post-Christian world, we thought now was the time to look back at what Greg had to say.

In his Divine Comedy, Dante isn't claiming to offer us a vision of what hell and heaven are actually like. It might be set in the afterlife, but it's really about how we live life here and now. Even if you've never read one line of the epic poem, you've been influenced by The Divine Comedy. It's time we learned more about one of Western literature's greatest works … and how it might just change our lives. CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception's episode possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Some claim Christian persecution is on the rise, while others find the idea of a modern persecution implausible. So, what's the truth? It's complex … (00:00) - - John Dickson's persecution complex (08:56) - - The myth of persecution (13:24) - - The first Christian persecutions (21:29) - - The third-century persecutions (34:10) - - The Emperor Diocletian comes to power (40:17) - - The Great Persecution (49:49) - - The persecutions end (56:03) - - Haroon's story (01:05:46) - - Smash and squeeze persecution (01:18:26) - - Five Minute Jesus CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Jane Austen's words and books are well known. But what do we know of Jane herself - what she was like, and what she believed? What did she think of society and class, ethics, literature, romance, and faith?(00:00) - - Jane behind the text (05:51) - - Jane's world (10:35) - - Jane the novelist (19:31) - - The author and the characters (34:24) - - Romance, satire, or something else? (41:35) - - Jane's 'undeceptions' (44:27) - - Jane and the church (53:43) - - Ethics and virtues (58:40) - - Five Minute Jesus (01:03:24) - - Silence on slavery (01:09:19) - - Jane's legacy CREDITS Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Christianity is sometimes branded as anti-intellectual, and its followers labelled unteachable. But in an increasingly divided age, the church - with its rich history of learning - might be able to help the world recover what it means to have a teachable spirit … and to know who to learn from.(00:00) - - How we learn (04:17) - - Teachability (10:44) - - Humility in learning (16:00) - - Is faith a block to thinking critically? (20:58) - - Combating fear with knowledge (28:36) - - Learning from strangers (33:10) - - Learning from the dead (46:26) - - Learning from our enemies (56:33) - - Five Minute Jesus (01:03:56) - - Why learn from Christians? CREDITS Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actor for this episode was Suzanne Ellis.Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

African Christianity is almost as old as Christianity itself. Many of the early church's theological giants came from Africa, and today, Christianity is exploding across the continent. In this episode, we look at Jesus through African eyes.(00:09) - - The Tortoise and the Hare: A different perspective (08:15) - - Why look at Jesus through African eyes? (11:26) - - Africa in the Bible (15:26) - - Diversity in Christianity (18:19) - - Hermeneutics - African style! (23:30) - - The African church (32:17) - - Syncretism (38:19) - - Scripture through different lenses (45:10) - - Five Minute Jesus (53:50) - - Hannah's prayer (59:58) - - Can we see Jesus however we want?

As the West undergoes a ‘de-churching,' some are starting to wonder about the unintended consequences of a society with fewer believers.After all, some of history's greatest humanitarians all had one thing in common: a Christian faith.(00:00) - - Intro (00:00) - Chapter 2 (04:32) - - The power of faith communities (08:21) - - Faith and politics (15:20) - - Navigating tragedy in a faith community (18:11) - - The Charleston shooting (26:13) - - Measuring the 'good life' (35:00) - - The great de-churching (42:52) - - The happiness 'miracle drug' (45:52) - - Five Minute Jesus (50:11) - - Why join the faith?

Season 15 of Undeceptions is coming really soon! And our latest REWIND will help you brush up on some of the issues we'll be discussing in our first full episode of next season.There's a growing body of research – authoritative, real-life, peer-reviewed research – that reports a significant benefit to wellbeing if you are religious. And not just religious, but part of a faith community.

This coming January, more precisely, January 5th – 10th, 2026, the 40th Steamboat MusicFest will take place.  MusicFest has been described as “The Superbowl of Texas Music”, and anyone who's ever been would say that's an accurate statement.   In this episode Carly and Pete were able to visit with the founder and creator of this incredible event, Mr. John Dickson.  John recounts how he first got the idea to create such a unique festival and how it has grown to be universally regarded as the Best of the Best of Texas / Red Dirt Music Festivals.   If you've never been to a MusicFest in Steamboat Springs, CO, and you're a fan of this kind of music, it certainly needs to be on your bucket list.  Attendees of MusicFest will see their favorite musicians perform in various settings from intimate bars and huge outdoor stages at the base of the mountain, to the “Largest Dancehall in Colorado” – a climate-controlled tent brought in especially for MusicFest, that can hold 3,000 people!   Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, August 27th and reservations can be made by clicking this LINK.  And you better get on it early because the festival sells out every year!  Packages include access to all musical performances, lodging, lift tickets, ski rentals and more!   John is also responsible for various other destination music festivals including the all-inclusive Big Beach Fest in Costa Rica coming up this June!   A great big TROUBADOUR THANK YOU goes out to John and all the fine folks at Dickson Productions for getting this episode lined up as well as their massive contributions to Texas County and Red Dirt music for decades!   SWEETWATER  - Buy your gear using our affiliate link!   GET HEALTHY WITH PETE !   You can listen to all of our previous episodes with over 200 hours of interviews with folks like Ray Wylie Hubbard - Ray Benson - William Clark Green - Casey Donahew - Pat Green - Corb Lund - Jack Ingram - Paul Thorn - Shane Smith – Bruce Robison & MORE by getting a  $3 BACKSTAGE PASS by visiting our PATREON PAGE

Are our dreams full of messages and warnings? John was sceptical, but for most of human history, that's been the common view. In this Undeceptions REWIND, we take a closer look. If you like what you hear, listen to the episode in full: Episode 105 'Decoding Dreams'.

The 18th-century philosopher David Hume famously predicted that, as the world grew more rational and scientific, people would stop having supernatural encounters.But that's not what has played out.We might live in a secular age, but we continue to have seemingly divine experiences.Lots of people now describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious”, but taking that next step - that leap of faith - into a formal belief system might actually be more rational than not.(00:00) - - Intro (00:51) - - Modern miracles (05:56) - - Ross Douthat: Columnist and podcaster (07:10) - - The Decadent Society (12:11) - - Secular regrets (19:33) - - The Logos of creation (38:42) - - The Pathos of near-death experiences (45:08) - - Buff Dickson's near-death experience (50:35) - - More miracles (58:50) - - Join a religion - any religion! (01:10:04) - - The three problems with religion (01:17:19) - - Why believe in Jesus? CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.  Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Editing by Richard Hamwi.Our voice actors today was Yannick Lawry. Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.