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How does Jane Austen’s ‘Sense and Sensibility’ deal with money and property? Brent talks with Jennifer Holberg about Austen’s novel. Jennifer is professor and chair of the English Department at Calvin University in the States and co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith and Writing.  She’s also the author of the book ‘Nourishing Narratives’. (0:45) When was the book written? (2:20) The title; (5:10) Money and property; (7:00) Women in Austen’s society; (9:00) The two sisters; (11:30) John Dashwood; (14:00) Edward; (18:30) Colonel Brandon; (21:00) Willoughby; (23:30) Lucy Steele; (26:30) Marianne.  Links mentioned in this episode: Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

How is sleep a sacred gift that restores us? Brent talks with Brett McCracken about his new Zondervan Reflective book ‘The Wisdom of Sleep: How Rest Reveals God’s Truth and Revives Weary Souls’. Brett is an author and journalist based in Southern California.  He serves as a senior editor at the Gospel Coalition where he writes on the intersection of faith and culture.  He’s written a number of books.       (1:00) Sleep as a place where God shakes us out of time; (2:30) Why do we sleep? (3:45) Rest in modern culture; (5:10) Sleep and death; (6:55) Transhumanism and sleep; (8:30) Christianity and sleep; (9:35) Sleeping better; (12:05) Imagination and sleep; (19:40) Scripture and dreams; (18:20) God’s rest in Genesis; (20:40) Sleeping as an act of faith.    Links mentioned in this episode: www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Sleep-Reveals-Truth-Revives/dp/0310175712 Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

Are you grieving the loss of a child by suicide? Brent talks with Jackie Baker about her new book from Hope Books called ‘Messy Mourning: Hope for Mothers Grieving the Loss of a Child by Suicide’. Jackie is a pediatric nurse practitioner and a writer who writes about grief, faith, motherhood, identity and healing.    (0:40) Sebastian; (3:55) Stigma? (6:20) Youth suicide; (8:10) Messy grieving process; (10:25) Trusting in God; (12:30) Grief counselling; (13:30) Grief – the second year and beyond; (17:00) The 7th year; (18:50) NZ.    Links mentioned in this episode: www.jackiembaker.com/messy-mourning www.mightyape.co.nz/mn/buy/mighty-ape-books-messy-mourning-9798891854123/ Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

How did John Wesley’s leadership practices shape the church and his society as a whole? Brent talks with Margaret Diddams and Shirley Mullen about their new IVP book ‘Tried and True: The Countercultural Virtues of Christian Leadership’. Margaret is an industrial-organizational psychologist, former provost and chief academic officer at Wheaton College and a former senior manager at Microsoft.   Shirley served as president of Houghton University for fifteen years.  She spent four decades in the work of faith based liberal arts education in various roles.   (1:00) How John Wesley has influenced leadership; (3:45) Who was John Wesley? (8:00) The 3 S’s – surrender, stewardship, and servanthood; (18:20) Charisma; (23:25) What we can learn from John Wesley.    Links mentioned in this episode: www.amazon.com/Tried-True-Countercultural-Christian-Leadership/dp/B0H6KJ9M74 Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

‘When panic attacks shattered his world, leaving him drowning in a chaos he couldn’t name, biblical scholar Dave Nienhuis discovered something unexpected.  Scripture itself offered language for his anguish.  The Bible’s recurring image of the catastrophic Deep – the watery chaos that threatens to overwhelm – spoke for him when he had no words of his own’. Brent talks to Dave Nienhuis about his new Eerdman’s book ‘And the Sea Was No More: Reading the Bible in the Deep’. Dave is professor of New Testament studies at Seattle Pacific Seminary.  He has authored and edited several books.  (1:00) The panic attacks; (6:30) The deep and chaos; (10:40) Job; (12:00) Jesus and the deep; (14:30) Revelation; (17:15) Suffering and the Christian life; (22:00) Finding God in suffering.  Links mentioned in this episode: davenienhuis.com www.amazon.com/Sea-Was-No-More-Reading/dp/0802886140 Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

What is the soul and why is it important? Brent talks with Joshua Farris about his new Collective Ink Books title ‘Why Souls? A Mirror to the Universe’. Joshua is an ordained priest with the diocese of Kagera and ACMI and a Canon Theologian on Missio Mosaic.  He’s also the director and founder of Soul Science Ministries and Spiritually Driven Leadership.    (1:00) Intelligence; (2:40) Human intelligence and AI; (4:00) The Turing Test; (6:00) The soul; (7:55) Body and soul; (10:40) Reasons for the traditional view; (12:30) Exploring the world without a soul; (14:30) Naturalism; (17:00) Panpsychism; (22:20) Near death experiences; (26:30) Dementia.   Links mentioned in this episode: soulscienceministries.com www.amazon.com.au/dp/1903816416?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_nz Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

How could Christians offer alternative views to the dominant voices in society? Brent talks with Tim Muehlhoff who is one of the authors – with Todd Lewis – of a second edition of the IVP book ‘Authentic Communication: Christian Speech Engaging Culture’. Tim is Professor of Communication at Biola University in California and Senior Director of the Winsome Conviction Project.    (0:40) Effective communication; (1:30) Perception in communication; (6:30) Conflict; (9:40) Disagreements; (10:45) Dealing with conflict; (12:15) Empathy; (13:40) Resident aliens; (16:15) Postmodernism; (20:00) The argument culture; (24:15) Politics; (26:2o) Social justice.   Links mentioned in this episode: www.biola.edu/directory/people/timothy-muehlhoff www.amazon.com/dp/1514016087?lv=shuf&channelId=520&plpRedirect=mhFallback Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

How was C.S. Lewis inspired by the mystics? Brent talks with Gary Selby about his new IVP book ‘The Everyday Mysticism of C.S. Lewis: Spirituality for Daily Life’. Gary is Professor of ministerial formation at Emmanuel Christian Seminary, where he teaches courses in spiritual formation and ministry.  He’s written a number of books.     (0:50) The mystical tradition; (1:50) Lewis and the mystics; (3:20) ‘Letters to Malcolm’; (5:15) Pleasure; (6:10) Medieval writers and the glory of God; (8:20) Julian of Norwich;  (10:25) Ransom and Julian; (12:00) Lewis and beauty; (14:50) God and creation; (16:45) Lewis ambivalent about mysticism; (19:40) Attention; (22:30) Lewis and the church.  Links mentioned in this episode: www.amazon.com/dp/1514014521?lv=shuf&channelId=520&plpRedirect=mhFallback Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

What can the ancient mothers and fathers of the church teach us about Advent and Christmas? Brent talks with Lynneth and Adam Renberg the authors of a new IVP book ‘Candles in the Darkness: Experiencing Advent with the Early and Medieval Church’. Lynneth is associate professor of history and associate director of the Honors College at Anderson University. Adam is assistant professor of theology at Anderson University and theologian in residence and teaching pastor at Capstone Church.   (0:50) The devotional; (1:20) Egeria in the 4th century; (5:30) Candles in Advent; (7:30) Advent in different parts of the church; (8:40) What can the church fathers and mothers teach us about Advent and Christmas? (10:15) Iraneus; (11:25) Paula the Elder; (13:20) Hildegard of Bingen; (14:40) Gregory of Nazianzus; (16:15) The Dunhuang Manuscript; (18:15) The Old English ‘Key of David’.  Links mentioned in this episode: www.christianbook.com/candles-darkness-experiencing-advent-medieval-church/9781514014226/pd/4014226?msockid=100d78d805d06b4238d66e3804fa6a56 Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

What if you’ve lost your delight in God? What if you’ve never really experienced it in the first place? Brent talks witn Stephanie Rouselle about her new IVP book ‘Awaken Delight: Satisfying Your Soul’s Longings for God’. Stephanie is a Bible teacher, speaker, host of the ‘Gospel Spice’ podcast and founder of Gospel Spice ministries.  Stephanie is a former atheist whose life motto is ‘God’s Glory, our delight’.  (0:50) Divine delight; (7:20) Atheism to faith; (11:45) Delight in God; (15:10) Pain; (23:25) The place of suffering in our lives. Links mentioned in this episode: www.gospelspice.com www.christianbook.com/awaken-delight-satisfying-your-souls-longing/9781514013588/pd/013588?msockid=100d78d805d06b4238d66e3804fa6a56 Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes. https://liquidedge.co.nz/

What does the book of Job have to say about suffering? Brent talks with Dennis Tucker about his new commentary on Job published in IVP’s Tyndale Old Testament Commentary Series. Dennis is professor of Christian Scriptures at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary.  He’s the author of a number of books.  (0:40) Job now; (1:35) Suffering and chaos; (4:10) Is Job guilty? (5:10) The Satan; (6:55) The dialogues; (8:45) The ‘friends’; (11:50) Chapter 28; (14:30) Job’s final defense; (13:15) Elihu; (19:20) God’s reply in chapters 38-42; (23:50) Job’s restoration; (26:00) Job and Jesus.  Links mentioned in this episode: www.amazon.com/Job-Introduction-Commentary-Testament-Commentaries/dp/1514015846 Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

‘We live in an age where therapy culture dominates our culture’. Brent talks with Matthew Loftus about his new IVP book ‘Resisting Therapy Culture: The Dangers of Pop Psychology and How the Church Can Respond’. Matthew teaches and practices family medicine at a mission hospital in Kenya.  His work has appeared in ‘The New York Times’, ‘The Atlantic’, ‘Christianity Today’ and ‘Mere Orthodoxy’ among others. He is the 2025 recipient of Trinity Forum’s Michael J. Gerson Prize for Excellence in Writing on Faith and Public Life.     (1:00) Therapy culture; (4:00) The West; (5:40) Mental health; (7:15) The church and therapy culture; (10:00) Medicalization; (11:20) Suffering; (12:20) Shame; (16:10) The church and mental illness;  (18:00) The demonic? (19:30) Trauma; (21:50) Pastoral advice; (23:30) A ‘good enough’ church. Links mentioned in this episode: matthewandmaggie.org/2026/07/06/why-did-i-write-resisting-therapy-culture/ www.amazon.com/Resisting-Therapy-Culture-Dangers-Psychology/dp/1514012685 Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

Does beauty really exist? Brent talks with Dennis Bray about his new IVP book ‘What is Beauty? An Introduction to Art and Aesthetics’. Dennis is a philosophical theologian who integrates insights from philosophy, biblical and systematic theology, history and the empirical sciences.  He’s assistant professor of theology at Taylor University.   (0:40) The arts; (1:25) Beauty; (6:30) God’s beauty; (9:15) Plotinus; (14:30) What is art – how does it reflect God’s beauty? (21:40) Art and God. Links mentioned in this episode: www.dennispbray.com www.amazon.com/What-Beauty-Introduction-Aesthetics-Philosophy/dp/1514002361 Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

What are the Exodus themes in John 6:22-71? Brent talks with Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute. (0:25) The crowd; (1:30) The bread; (2:30) The Tabernacle and the Temple; (3:00) Moses; (5:20) Faith and belief; (7:55) Jesus and Moses; (9:10) Wisdom; (10:20) Manna, Law and Wisdom (11:55) Exodus themes; (12:20) The Son of Man theme; (14:20) Jesus’ body.  Links mentioned in this episode: theopolisinstitute.com Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.

What are the Exodus themes in John 6:1-21 and why are they there? Brent talks with Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States. (0:30) The 4th and 5th signs; (0:40) John’s account; (2:15) Passover and the sea crossing; (3:30) Exodus themes; (4:40) The grass; (5:50) 5,000 (6:40) 12 baskets and 5 loaves; (9:00) The Lord’s Supper; (12:30) Walking on the water; (15:40) The ‘I Am’ statements; (17:25) The sea and sea imagery. Links mentioned in this episode: theopolisinstitute.com Leave some feedback: What should we talk about? Please let us know in the comments. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please give us a rating and leave a short review. Connect with us: [email protected] godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d like to help us make more great episodes like this one, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter. For as little as $5 a month, you’ll receive early access to new episodes plus bonus episodes and other goodies from time to time, and our undying gratitude. patreon.com/godsstorypodcast Thanks to our sponsors, Liquid Edge Creative who take care of the technical stuff behind the scenes.  https://liquidedge.co.nz/