PODCAST · religion
Press On Journal
by Press On Journal
Press On is a Christadelphian journal. We publish engaging perspectives, expressed with enthusiasm and love for other believers. Press On aspires to stimulate growth in the Christadelphian community by helping it draw strength from its diversity, following the spirit of 1 Cor 12, and Rom 12 — one body, made up of different parts, all of whom are dependent on each other. As in the first century, our community of faith can benefit from both progressive and traditional perspectives so long as they are explored compassionately and without factionalism. That is what we are trying to do. As a listener of Press On, you may come across perspectives you have not encountered before. Some topics you may immediately resonate with and be thrilled by. Others you might disagree with. Our goal is that either way, you come away without feeling talked down to and with something worth considering.
Episodes
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Trial and Triumph
How can we ‘count it all joy’ when we meet trials? And if God tempts no one, why does Jesus teach us to pray that our Father does not lead us into temptation? This article explores the difference between being tested and being tempted, through the experiences of Abraham, Adam and Eve, and Jesus...
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The Eclipse of Christ by the Kingdom
Are our lives just a waiting room ‘in the region and shadow of death’, or has light dawned? The message Jesus preached was not a reminder of the Kingdom visions of the Old Testament but a radical invitation to experience the realm of God here and now. His miracles showed that the Kingdom had...
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Preconceptions About Passages
How much of what we think about a passage is actually coming from the text, and how much is coming from us? This article looks afresh at three familiar passages: the parable of the Prodigal Son, Paul’s letter to Philemon, and the Great Commission. It shows how titles, tradition, our social…
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No Longer Slaves
Roman culture had a practice of using adoption to ensure a desirable heir, sometimes even freeing a trusted slave for this purpose. Paul uses slavery as a metaphor to show what God has done for us: bought us at a high price, clothed us with Christ, and adopted us as his children. We can call God...
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The Conundrum of Job's Children
The book of Job throws up many theological, moral, and linguistic questions. For the purposes of this article, the author is assuming that the book of Job is a poetic and dramatic portrayal of the story of a faithful man in adversity. This assumption does not diminish its truth; rather, it...
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A Lighter Tread on the Earth
This article is a call to action for us to take being stewards of God’s creation seriously by looking afresh at what it means to ‘rule’ and ‘care’ for the earth. Instead of simply waiting for the future Kingdom, we are urged to consider making lifestyle changes today that will lessen the negative...
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The Historical Jesus: The Rabbi
Let’s meet the real Rabbi Jesus. This first century figure was unexceptional in his appearance and way of life until he began his ministry, and it was then he showed himself as fundamentally radical, revolutionary and extraordinary. He stirred people up, and he still has the ability to disturb…
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The Eclipse of Christ by Scripture
Are we more in love with the Bible as the word of God than we are with the Lord Jesus Christ himself? This article draws a distinction between the living "word of God"—God's contemporary revelation that challenges and changes us—and "scripture," the archived record that we are too easily tempted…
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Jesus: A First Century Jew
Come and meet the real Jesus, as depicted within his time and cultural setting. We will meet a man of his time, looking and sounding and behaving as a man of his time would be expected to. He becomes ever more real to us as our preconceptions of that shampoo-advert-Jesus fall away. And our...
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The Sacred Work of Letting Go
How do we deal with the cognitive dissonance between the violent, retributive warmongering God of the OT and the NT non-violent Son of God who is full of mercy and grace? Learning to let go of the inaccurate theological doctrine that we have been inadvertently raised with, and reading the Bible...
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The Eclipse of Christ by Israel
Jesus is the True Vine and not Israel. Choosing Jesus over natural Israel is not an academic exercise: it has real world consequences. We can only be fruitful through him. We must be fruitful; not in the desire to become ‘management’ in the Kingdom; or in seeking to understand all prophecy, all...
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Teaching in Parables
This article explores the teaching of Jesus through his use of parables. Jesus taught in both synagogues and the Temple, as well as out in the countryside. He answered questions, corrected misunderstandings, made full use of the the Old Testament, enacted parables, told short stories and also…
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Why I Am a Christian
“Would you still be a Christian if you found out that there was no future Kingdom after your death?” This life is not all about “getting to the Kingdom” it’s a lot about trying to be more like Jesus in everything we do, which makes life so dynamic and worthwhile. This life is not a “Waiting…
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The Emergence of Christadelphians
This historical perspective will help us to think about how we fit into the broader history of Christianity, leading us both to consider what is valuable in the historical influences that have shaped us, and to reflect on how we see ourselves in relation to other Christians today. We are part of...
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That it Might be Fulfilled
This articles seeks to show how the Bible continues to speak with depth and coherence to the people of God in every generation. For us, the NT’s use of the OT provides a model of reading and understanding that is both relevant and dynamic. The authors encourage us to read the Bible as a unified...
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Christadelphian Perspectives on Evolution
What is the Christadelphian’s stand on evolution and how did it become tantamount to a first principle? Where do our beliefs around this topic originate? What do we mean by old-earth creation, or young-earth creation, or theistic evolution? In this in-depth overview about the Christadelphian...
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Following the Shepherd
This article explores the practicality of trusting in God even though we cannot see the end from the beginning. There is freedom in realizing that God is more interested in who we are rather than what we do. Jesus trusted in his Father implicitly, and he is inviting us to share our journey with…
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New Gems from the Old
The authors of the Gospels and epistles routinely appeal to Israel’s Scriptures, not merely as historical background or for moral instruction, but as the theological and narrative framework within which the significance of Christ must be understood. This is not a matter of isolated proof-texting,...
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Our Historical Roots
Using a historical perspective, this article considers how Christadelphians ‘fit’ in the broad sweep of Christian history by addressing the background to Christadelphian beliefs, with reflections on different understandings of what a ‘church’ is, examples of movements seeking to reform or break...
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Images in Sacred Time
Using personal experience as a starting point, this article explores the process of faith deconstruction and reconstruction within the Christadelphian community. It examines how foundational beliefs about biblical inerrancy can become entangled with personal identity and the need for certainty…
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Genealogies in the NT
This article looks at the genealogies of Jesus recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, and provides insights into why these two lists of ancestors differs. Matthew and Luke had very different purposes in collating the genealogical history of Jesus. Matthew shows that Jesus has far greater...
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How God Speaks to Us
When you and I sit down to read the Bible we are, in a sense, eavesdropping. We are learning by listening in to what are ancient conversations: that is, God speaking to ancient people living in very different times and cultures. While God was speaking to them, He was also speaking for our…
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Origins of Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is probably the best known of all the Psalms. It is simple, yet profound and beautiful. People know it. People quote it. But why did David write it? What were the circumstances that led him to these particular words? We can’t know the answer for certain, but it turns out that every…
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The Role of Israel
The conflict in Gaza is a tragedy. The war crimes perpetrated by both Hamas and the Israeli government are entirely alien to the character and values of the Lord God. There is no defence to be made of such crimes on the grounds of genealogy or biological descent. The children of God, the children...
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Women in Biblical Genealogies
This article looks at some instances of women in Biblical genealogies, particularly noticing the difference between the egalitarian status of women in God’s plan and purpose in Genesis, and how women were actually regarded as subordinate to men in ANE culture. The place of a woman in patrilineal...
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Israel's Time of Trouble
Time periods in prophecy are a bit of a nightmare for many Bible readers. But for some, understanding prophecy, including the time periods, is an important way of learning more about events leading up to the coming of Christ. So, as we witness the on-going events in the Middle East today, our...
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Another Curious Parable
This article looks at the curious or strange parable in Luke 16 variously called the parable of the shrewd manager (NIV), or the dishonest manager (ESV), or the unjust steward (NKJV), or the prudent steward, giving us a clue to the fact that there are divergent views about the focus and meaning…
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Abraham Takes His Time
God requested Abraham to leave his country, his father’s house, and his family. This was not one request that was met overnight by Abraham in a state of total obedience. We see that in the course of a 50 year period that it was not actually Abraham himself who instigated the circumstances leading...
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The Trumpet Sounds
Despite the paucity of references in the New Testament to the role of Israel in God’s purposes, we have argued that the trumpets in Revelation highlight the sequence of events which will lead up to the point at which those in Israel who are prepared to accept Christ as their Messiah will be saved.
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The Cultural Context of Biblical Genealogies
Genealogies were not used in ANE in the same way we use ours today. This article outlines the theory and models of genealogies as used in the Hebrew bible, and explores their purpose: to record the blood relationships and lineage of the people of Israel among the peoples of the ANE; to emphasise...
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Our Countercultural Messiah
The teachings of Jesus challenge us to rise above cultural norms and self-centered ambitions, calling us to a life of genuine love, humility, and service. The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us to embody compassion and mercy, not as an outward display but as a true reflection of Christ’s...
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Adopted by God
God’s desire to adopt us as his children is at the very heart of the gospel. Understanding the role of adoption in Greco-Roman times, enriches the process of us being adopted out of slavery to sin, and becoming coheirs with Christ. There is no greater joy than the privilege of being adopted by…
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Jesus, God's Advocate
Jesus's ministry exemplified best practices in advocacy and change strategies. In it, one can identify clear objectives, specifically chosen audiences, deliberate message points, and various tactics we would still see in modern communication campaigns.
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How Jesus Read the Old Testament
In reading the Old Testament, Jesus seems to be selecting the most important verses – the verses which apply most fully to himself and his mission at that time, and the verses which he wants his hearers to understand both about him and about their own discipleship. Jesus does not simply applying...
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Parable Curiosity
We are used to the idea that doctrine is defined and held together by straightforward literal – almost legal – language. Historically, the teaching of scripture has been reduced to a series of propositions in a ‘statement of faith’ or a ‘creed.’ But Jesus didn’t teach like that, and the parables...
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Beauty
The three ancient Greek transcendentals—truth, goodness, and beauty—reflect essential principles which are also seen in the Bible. While truth and goodness receive ample attention in Christian discourse, beauty is often neglected despite its crucial role in attracting people to God through love,...
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Sealed in Christ
The seven seals in Revelation represent the Divine process for working with people. The first four seals speak of the conditions under which people respond to God's invitation, while the final three reveal God's plan for gathering those followers.
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King James and the Witches
The witch hunts from the era of King James I have echoes in today's political landscape. Just as religious authorities once twisted Bible verses to justify persecuting women, religious nationalists now use faith-based arguments to marginalize and restrict roles for women in society.
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I've Already Read the Bible
We each have an arc in our lifetime Bible-reading habits, and some people eventually choose to set aside regular reading. Others maintain the practice despite having read the Bible many times. Bible reading can be like therapeutic coaching that provides perspective, correction, and renewal, much...
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He's Not Finished With Me Yet
For Christians, change is a crucial aspect of living a spiritual life. While we tend to want to keep things just as they are, God has different plans. God pushes us to grow and develop in a gradual process that requires trust.
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Life Regifted
The author shares his experience with a major health emergency: an aorta dissection. He explains the subsequent surgery, and his emergence with renewed perspective. The discussion touches on mortality and faith, approach to prayer, the importance of acceptance, and the overwhelming impact of love...
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Reframing the Crucifixion Shame
The crucifixion of Jesus is examined through the lens of honor-shame culture, highlighting the public humiliation he endured. His cry on the cross is interpreted as a biblical lament, demonstrating faith rather than doubt. God's vindication of Jesus' honor is shown through supernatural signs and...
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Breaking Free from Burnout
Burnout arrives with recognizable signs, and there are biblical strategies to overcome it. Mitigating burnout requires rest, reliance on God, reframing purpose, honest prayer, trusting God's timing, and community support. Elijah's story and various Bible verses illustrate these points and can...
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The Conversion of Job
We explore how Job's experiences reveal that a right relationship with God stems from His grace, not our own righteousness. Through suffering and divine encounters, Job learns to trust in God's sovereign grace rather than relying on religious observance or moral perfection. This understanding...
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A Matter of Interpretation
Biblical interpretation can face challenges in understanding aspects of the text such as genre and context. Christadelphian community bible study could benefit from improved hermeneutics, engagement with scholarship, emphasis on humility, and recognition of interpretive authority. These practices...
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The Morality of Sex
A Christian morality of sex should be based on virtues like respect for others and faithfulness, rather than just rules or consequences. Sex should occur within committed relationships motivated by mutual care and benefit, not merely consent.
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Empathy Across Generations
Ecclesias face challenges accommodating diverse generational perspectives and expectations regarding worship styles, gender roles, and community engagement. Unity amid diversity is exhorted by examples like the Council of Jerusalem and many of Paul's teachings, and there are good practical...
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Genocide in Canaan?
The biblical account of Israel's conquest of Canaan should probably not be read literally – as an exercise in genocide – but understood through the lens of ancient literary conventions using hyperbolic language to convey spiritual lessons rather than factual history.
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21st Century Church
Churches must prioritize creating welcoming spaces for worship and spiritual growth, not hindering access through traditions. New approaches can facilitate authentic worship and community. Embracing positive change requires humility, open-mindedness, and active participation from all members to...
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A Healthier View of Sex
Christian theological views on sexuality could use some responsible re-evaluation as some commonly-held beliefs may be problematic. The body and sexual desires are not sinful, but part of God's good creation. Virginity does not equal purity, lust is not equivalent to adultery, nor is procreation...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Press On is a Christadelphian journal. We publish engaging perspectives, expressed with enthusiasm and love for other believers. Press On aspires to stimulate growth in the Christadelphian community by helping it draw strength from its diversity, following the spirit of 1 Cor 12, and Rom 12 — one body, made up of different parts, all of whom are dependent on each other. As in the first century, our community of faith can benefit from both progressive and traditional perspectives so long as they are explored compassionately and without factionalism. That is what we are trying to do. As a listener of Press On, you may come across perspectives you have not encountered before. Some topics you may immediately resonate with and be thrilled by. Others you might disagree with. Our goal is that either way, you come away without feeling talked down to and with something worth considering.
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Press On Journal
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Press On Journal have?
Press On Journal currently has 153 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Press On Journal about?
Press On is a Christadelphian journal. We publish engaging perspectives, expressed with enthusiasm and love for other believers. Press On aspires to stimulate growth in the Christadelphian community by helping it draw strength from its diversity, following the spirit of 1 Cor 12, and Rom 12 — one...
How often does Press On Journal release new episodes?
Press On Journal publishes regularly with 153 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Press On Journal?
You can listen to Press On Journal on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Press On Journal?
Press On Journal is created and hosted by Press On Journal.
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