The Good Book Company Podcast

Sinclair Ferguson reads Day 3 of his new Easter devotional To Seek and To Save. Journey with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem with these reflections for Lent. As you walk through the second half of Luke's Gospel, you'll meet the people Jesus encountered on the way to the cross—and prepare your heart to appreciate his death and resurrection afresh.

Sinclair Ferguson reads Day 2 of his new Easter devotional To Seek and To Save. Journey with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem with these reflections for Lent. As you walk through the second half of Luke's Gospel, you'll meet the people Jesus encountered on the way to the cross—and prepare your heart to appreciate his death and resurrection afresh.

We've got something a little bit different for you in this episode. Last week we shared our conversation with the wonderful Sinclair Ferguson. We heard from Sinclair about his new Easter devotional To Seek and To Save, and there was some fascinating discussion about the Bible's journey motif which he draws on in his book and how scripture uses it to teach us about how our journey fits into God's bigger purposes. And in this episode we're giving you a sneak preview of the book. Here is Mr Ferguson himself reading day 1 of his devotional in his relaxing dulcet Scottish tones. Enjoy!

In this episode we speak to Scottish theologian Sinclair Ferguson about his new Easter devotional To Seek and To Save. Sinclair tells us about becoming a Christian, feeling the call to ministry at a young age and the enduring impact of Calvin's Institutes on his life and teaching. We chat about the Bible's journey motif which he draws on in his new book and how scripture uses it to teach us about how our journey fits into God's bigger purposes.

We talk to Matt Fuller, the Senior Minister at Christ Church, Mayfair about his new book Be True To Yourself. Matt tells us about his short stint as a teacher in the countryside and how he ended up as a minister in Central London. We find out what it actually means to 'be true to yourself' and how it differs from the invitation Jesus makes to deny ourselves in pursuit of Him.

In this episode we catch-up with Courtney Reissig, wife to Daniel, mum to four boys, speaker and author of multiple books, including her latest Teach Me to Feel. Courtney shares about her experience of a pregnancy complication that nearly took her life and the life of her unborn child. She discusses how she clung to the Psalms through that season and how they shaped her in the months following the trauma. Courtney also shares her unexpected journey to faith, what she's reading to her kids right now and how we can all make space for Bible reading in our busy lives.

'Quiet time'. 'Devotion'. 'Bible reading plan'. Whatever you call it, and however you do it, we all know how important it is to hear from God in His word regularly. Many make promises to ourselves at this time of year, but how do we find something that really lasts? And how can we enjoy it? In this episode we talk to founder of The Good Book Company Tim Thornborough and Editor Katy Morgan about what works for them.

Christmas is coming! We're very excited at The Good Book Company because books are a such a great companion for the entire Christmas season. We talk about Advent, our favourite Christmas traditions, and there's even a quiz (which some would say was completely rigged from the start and it was a stupid quiz anyway). *Disclaimer: at one point Joe references a film and get's the title wrong. It is in fact called Rare Exports.

In this episode we catch-up with Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor at The Village Church and author of Joy in the Sorrow: How a Thriving Church (and its Pastor) Learned to Suffer Well. Matt and James talk about the intense suffering of so many at The Village Church and how that prepared Matt for his own battle with a malignant brain tumor. He shares the fear he had of his brain and character being affected dramatically by surgery, why he chose to suffer so publicly and how we can help people who are suffering.

In this episode we catch-up with urban pastor Jason Roach about Swipe Up, his new honest (and sometimes humorous) book for youth and young adults about sex and relationships. Jason tells us how God interrupted his medical career to put him on the path toward becoming a pastor in an impoverished part of South London. He is now a consultant to the Bishop of London and is working with his church to tackle complex social issues such as knife crime. Oh, and he tells us how he managed to have a poledancer for a girlfriend...

In this episode we speak to Dr John Dickson, Australian apologist, historian, and Founding Director of Australia's Centre for Public Christianity, about his new book Is Jesus History? We cover how he became a Christian through reading the gospels alongside hamburgers and a faithful Christian, his career as a professional singer/songwriter and how he eventually (somewhat reluctantly) ended up in the world of academia. John shares his heart for proclaiming the gospel by presenting the rational case for Jesus of Nazareth.

In this episode we speak to social commentator, apologist and President of Southern Seminary, Dr. Albert Mohler. We delve into his childhood to find out how he came to be described as "one of America's most influential evangelicals". We also discuss the growing concern over ministry leaders and mental health, and find out how the book of Acts can and should inform our approach to ministry today.

In this episode we catch up with Glen Scrivener about his new Christmas evangelistic book The Gift, and cover a whole host of other evangelism things. Such as how he became a Christian, how he became a reverend, and how he became an evangelist. We also talk about the increasingly confusing world of campus outreach, and how to truly reach people in a digital age. Warning: contains cricket references.

The story of Daniel and the lions' den teaches children many things... It teaches them about praying; it teaches them about Daniel's faithfulness to God, and God's faithfulness to Daniel; and it teaches them that God is the real king of everyone everywhere. But if you peel back another layer, you'll see that like the rest of the Old Testament, it also points to Jesus. In this episode, we speak to author Alison Mitchell and illustrator Catalina Echeverri, about how they went about bringing this to life in 'Jesus and The Lions' Den', the latest addition to our beautiful, award-winning storybooks for children.

His Testimonies, My Heritage is an inspiring collection of devotions on Psalm 119 by a diverse group of women of color. In this episode we speak to Kristie Anyabwile, Kim Cash Tate and Jackie Hill-Perry about their contributions to the book, and why this project means so much to them.

Those of us that have children under our care—parents, godparents, grandparents, kids' ministry workers and more—have been gifted a wonderful opportunity and privilege. We can ignite the spark of wonder in a child's heart that sets them up for a lifetime of adventurous curiosity into all the things of God and His Word. In this episode founder of The Good Book Company, Tim Thornborough talks to us about Spark Wonder, a new campaign to urge parents—and anyone else with children in their care—to see Christian storybooks as a key discipleship tool.

"Rejoice always." "Don't be afraid." "Give cheerfully." What do we do when God's commands sound impossible? Most of us find opt-outs and excuses, or pretend we're doing better than we are. In this episode, Jonty Allcock argues that there is a better way. And in his new book Impossible Commands he says that obedience can be a life-giving joy rather than a job, a delight instead of duty.

So many of us struggle with prayer. Many books have been written on the subject and there's a reason for that. Prayer comes hard to most of us, in most seasons. And when we do pray, we often don't know what to say. What is it that my Father loves to hear about? What are the best things I could pray for my family, my church, and myself? In this episode, renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg talks about his new book Pray Big. He shows us that the Apostle Paul clearly enjoyed prayer, and was excited about it. He also expected his Father in heaven to hear what he said, and to act in other people's lives accordingly, and the truths that underpin and shape Paul's prayers can motivate us to pray and set us an example.

Modern research is uncovering more and more detail of what our brain is and how it works. We are living, thinking creatures who carry around with us an amazing organic supercomputer in our heads. In this episode, brain imaging scientist Sharon Dirckx lays out the current understanding of who we are from biologists, philosophers, theologians and psychologists, and points towards a bigger picture that suggests answers to the fundamental questions of our existence. Not just "What am I?", but "Who am I?"—and "Why am I?"

Illustrating Bible stories for children is much harder than it seems. How much can a restless toddler take in from one story? How do you emphasise what you want them to remember? Do we have to convey the whole gospel every time? In this episode we talk to Steph Williams, writer, designer, illustrator and Mum of three as she unpacks the 'Little me, Big God' series and how she went about turning three gospel stories into age-appropriate books for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Whether it's TV boxsets, Instagram stories or historical novels, we all consume culture. So it's important that we are neither bewitched by it—buying into everything it tells us—or bewildered by it—lashing out in judgement or retreating into a Christian bubble. In this episode we talk to Dan Strange about how he encourages Christians in his new book Plugged In to engage with everything they watch, read and play in a positive and discerning way. He also teaches Christians how to think and speak about culture in a way that plugs in to a bigger and better reality—the story of King Jesus, and his cosmic plan for the world.

What do you think about your pastor? Do you chew over his sermons and wonder if they are clear and helpful? Do you feel he spends enough time with you? In fact, do you ever catch yourself wondering what he does all day? In this episode we talk to seasoned former pastor, Christopher Ash, about his new offering The Book Your Pastors Wishes You Would Read (But Is Too Embarrassed To Ask). In it he urges church members to think about pastors not just in terms of what they do – how they lead and pray and preach and teach and so on – but about who they are. He encourages us to remember that pastors are people and to pray for them as they serve us.

Welcome to The Good Book Company Podcast, a show where we have lively conversations with authors about church, culture and the Christian life. In this trailer you will hear previews of future podcasts, including conversations about culture with Daniel Strange and how to look after your pastor with Christopher Ash. The Good Book Company produces biblical, relevant and accessible resources for the church.