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In this episode  Leo spoke to Richard Coombs, Rector of St Matthew's & The Minster in Cheltenham, UK. Drawing on decades of ministry experience, Richard reflects on two church revitalisation stories, sharing what he learned about leadership, patience, prayer, and the slow work of gospel transformation. Questions answered in this episode How can a struggling church be revitalised without causing division? Why is Bible teaching the foundation of lasting church growth? What mistakes do leaders commonly make when trying to bring change? How should Christians handle disagreement within the church, particularly on difficult issues? Why does real gospel transformation often take much longer than we expect? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters    To contact us, email [email protected]

In this episode we feature a talk by William Taylor on Song of Songs 7-8. In it, William considers the book's conclusion and how it fits into the context of salvation history and the Old Testament's Christology. Questions answered in this episode: What does the Song of Songs teach us about true love? Why does the Bible present love as something to be guarded and treasured? How are sexual immorality and idolatry connected in Scripture? In what ways does the Song of Songs point us beyond Solomon to Jesus? What does it mean to be loved with a love that is stronger than death? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

The Song of Songs is one of the Bible's most beautiful and mysterious books. Is it simply a collection of ancient love poetry, or is there something deeper going on? In this episode, William Taylor joins Leo Elbourne to explore the Bible's celebration of love, marriage, and sexual intimacy, and why this often-misunderstood book remains so relevant today. Questions answered in this episode Is Song of Songs really about sex, or is it just a metaphor? Why does Song of Songs mention Solomon, and what role does he play in the book? What does Song of Songs teach about love, marriage, and intimacy? Why is the command "do not awaken love until it pleases" repeated throughout the book? How does Song of Songs point us to Christ and the church? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters    To contact us, email [email protected]

The Song of Songs is one of the most surprising books in the Bible. Often ignored, misunderstood, or treated with embarrassment, it presents a bold and beautiful celebration of love, marriage, and sexual intimacy as gifts from God.   In this episode, we begin our journey through Song of Songs, exploring why the Bible speaks so positively about sex while also insisting that it must be protected within God's design for marriage. Along the way, we consider how God's vision for love challenges both unhealthy religious attitudes and the confusion of modern culture. Questions Answered in This Episode What is the purpose of the Song of Songs? Does the Bible celebrate sexual love? Why does God place boundaries around sex? What does the Song of Songs teach about marriage and faithfulness? How does biblical love differ from modern cultural views of relationships? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters   To contact us, email [email protected]

In this episode of the Bible Matters Podcast, Leo sits down with Chris, pastor of a multicultural church in Cape Town, South Africa. Together they explore Chris's journey from accounting to gospel ministry, the challenges and opportunities of serving in a post-apartheid society, and why God's Word remains central to church planting, leadership training, and Christian education. From raising up future church leaders to building a church across cultural divides, Chris shares lessons learned from more than twenty years of ministry and reflects on how the gospel creates genuine unity where the world often struggles to do so. Questions answered in this episode How did Chris move from a career in accounting to full-time gospel ministry? What does it mean to plant and lead a multicultural church in South Africa? How can churches raise up the next generation of Christian leaders? What role should the Bible play in education, discipleship, and church leadership? How does the gospel bring unity across cultural, social, and historical divides? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

Have you ever wondered whether following God is really worth the cost when life seems to be falling apart?   In this episode, we begin our journey through the book of Ruth by exploring one of the Bible's most honest accounts of grief, loss, faith, and hope. Naomi returns from Moab convinced that God is against her, while Ruth makes the remarkable decision to leave everything behind and cast her lot in with God's people. Through their story, we discover that turning to the Lord is not a turn towards emptiness, but a turn towards hope, even when we cannot yet see how God is working for our good.   Questions answered in this episode: Why does the book of Ruth begin with so much tragedy and loss? What does Naomi's story teach us about suffering and God's sovereignty? Why does Ruth choose to follow Naomi and the God of Israel? What is the connection between Ruth's decision and biblical faith and repentance? How can we have hope when God seems distant or even against us? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

What does the Book of Ruth really teach? Is it simply a love story, or is it asking a much bigger question: is it worth returning to the Lord when life is hard? In this episode, we were joined by Tim Sheppard to explore the first book in our series on the Megilloth, the Five Scrolls. We examined Ruth as a carefully crafted narrative that points beyond itself to God's sovereign purposes, his hidden work in ordinary circumstances, and his commitment to establishing his kingdom. Along the way they discuss Naomi's bitterness, Ruth's remarkable faithfulness, Boaz's generosity, the significance of David at the end of the book, and why "finding your Boaz" may not be the main point of Ruth after all. Questions answered in this episode - Why is the Book of Ruth so important in the storyline of the Bible? - Is Ruth really a book about romance and finding a spouse? - Why does Naomi describe herself as bitter, and is she right to do so? - How does God work through ordinary events to accomplish extraordinary purposes? - What does Ruth teach us about trusting God's promises when they seem far from fulfilment? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters  To contact us, email [email protected]

Have you ever wondered whether following God is really worth the cost when life seems to be falling apart?   In this episode, we begin our journey through the book of Ruth by exploring one of the Bible's most honest accounts of grief, loss, faith, and hope. Naomi returns from Moab convinced that God is against her, while Ruth makes the remarkable decision to leave everything behind and cast her lot in with God's people. Through their story, we discover that turning to the Lord is not a turn towards emptiness, but a turn towards hope, even when we cannot yet see how God is working for our good.   As we wrestle with suffering, disappointment, and the cost of discipleship, Ruth 1 asks a question that remains deeply relevant today: Is it really worth turning to the Lord? Questions answered in this episode: Why does the book of Ruth begin with so much tragedy and loss? What does Naomi's story teach us about suffering and God's sovereignty? Why does Ruth choose to follow Naomi and the God of Israel? What is the connection between Ruth's decision and biblical faith and repentance? How can we have hope when God seems distant or even against us? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

What if five seemingly unrelated books of the Bible were actually part of a forgotten collection? In this introductory episode to our new series on the Megilloth (the Five Scrolls), Leo is joined by Molly to explore one of the Bible's most overlooked groupings: Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and Lamentations. Why were these books collected together? What can we learn from reading them as a collection rather than simply as individual books? And what happens if the category of "wisdom literature" isn't quite as straightforward as we've often assumed? Together, Leo and Molly discuss the Jewish ordering of the Old Testament, the origins of the Five Scrolls, the dangers of over-reading connections between books, and some surprising themes that appear to unite this remarkable collection. Most importantly, they ask whether all five books might be wrestling with the same question: When God's promises seem distant, is he still worth trusting? Questions answered in this episode What are the Megilloth, or Five Scrolls? Why are the Five Scrolls grouped together in the Jewish Scriptures? Does "wisdom literature" really exist as a biblical category? Are there common themes running through Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and Lamentations? How do these books help God's people trust him when life seems confusing or disappointing? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

What does it take to finish the race of faith well? Drawing on Paul's images of the athlete, the soldier and the hardworking farmer, we consider the dangers, pressures and disappointments that can cause Christians to lose heart. Yet alongside the warnings comes a powerful encouragement: faithful perseverance is possible through spiritual discipline, dependence on God and a fixed hope in the reward Christ promises. Whether you are serving in formal ministry or seeking to follow Christ faithfully in everyday life, this episode is a timely call to spiritual fitness, perseverance and finishing the race well. Questions answered in this episode: -What did Paul mean when he said, "I have finished the race"? -Why does the Bible compare the Christian life to athletic training? -What challenges do Christian leaders face as they seek to remain faithful? -How can believers maintain their spiritual fitness over the long term? What encouragement does 2 Timothy offer to Christians facing opposition, discouragement or suffering? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

Following William Taylor's recent talks on Titus and the Church of England, a number of questions and comments were raised by those who attended. In this short bonus episode, Leo Elbourne sits down with William Taylor to explore those questions in more detail, clarify his position, and discuss the implications for churches, ministry training, and the future of evangelical ministry within the Church of England. The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

What strategy should the church follow in order to reach a broken world? In this episode we feature a talk from William Taylor on Titus 3 that was given at a gathering of church leaders and ministry staff in London. In the talk, William looks at Paul's instructions to Timothy, and particularly the instructions on how he's to respond to false teachers. The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

How will God save the world?  In this episode we feature a talk from William Taylor on Titus 1-2 that was given at a gathering of church leaders and ministry staff in London. In the talk, William looks at Paul's instructions to Timothy concerning his ministry to Crete, and how we can learn from it as we seek to minister in our context.  Questions answered in this episode: - How will God save the world? -What should ministry look like? -What do I need to do to be a pastor?  - What should I focus on in my ministry.  The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

Who is Jesus? And what verdict have you reached? In this powerful concluding address from the "Who's Jesus?" series, John Stott argues that the claims of Jesus demand a response. Drawing from Matthew 11:25-30, he explores Jesus' extraordinary statements about himself, his unique ability to reveal God, and his invitation to all who are weary and burdened. Stott explains why Christianity is more than religion, why God reveals himself to the humble, and why so many people hesitate to respond to Jesus' call. He examines the burden of guilt, the offer of forgiveness through the cross, and the challenge of taking upon ourselves the yoke of Christ. At the heart of this talk is a simple but unavoidable question: if Jesus is who he claimed to be, can we really remain neutral? Questions answered in this episode: -Who did Jesus claim to be, and why are his claims so remarkable? -Why does Jesus say that only he can reveal God? -Why does God reveal himself to the humble but hide himself from the proud? -What stops people from coming to Christ? -What does it mean to take Jesus' yoke upon yourself and follow him? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected]

Why does the church so often disappoint people? And what did Jesus actually intend it to be? In this classic address, John Stott asks whether Christians are merely harmless spectators in society or whether Jesus intended his followers to be a transformative force for good. Beginning with the memorable question, "Are Christians cabbages or kings?", he explores God's purpose for the church and its calling to be a distinct community in the world. Questions Answered in This Episode: Why is the church central to God's purpose for the world? Why do so many people become disillusioned with the church? What did Jesus mean when he called his followers "salt" and "light"? How should Christians be different from the culture around them? What does it mean to build your life on the rock rather than the sand? The Bible Matters Podcast is funded entirely by the generous donations of its listeners. If you would like to become a financial partner with us on this journey, you can give to the project on this link: https://linktr.ee/BibleMatters To contact us, email [email protected] #BibleMatters #JohnStott #SermonOnTheMount #Church #ChristianLiving #SaltAndLight #KingdomOfGod #Christianity #Faith #Jesus