Rory Shiner is the senior pastor of Providence City Church, the network director of Providence Church Network and is the Chair of the The Gospel Coalition Australia Council.

Rory is a friend of the show & joins in this episode to unpack some common misconceptions surrounding various scriptures & how Christians can better apply them to our daily lives.

Christmas is around the corner & AJ Sherrill, pastor & author, joins the podcast to have a conversation & help us better navigate, prepare & be present during this time of year. The episode covers some misconceptions surrounding Christmas & is an encouragement to reflect on our own practices and how they can prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ during Advent.

AJ Sherrill's recent book "Rediscovering Christmas" is a meaningful resource as we journey from Advent into Christmas.

Folllow this to find our more about AJ Sherrill

Strahan Coleman, author & award winning musician of Commoners Communion, joins me for a conversation around the transformative power of prayer and what it means to thirst for God. The conversation highlights the importance of inviting God into our negative emotions, and how to cultivate a deeper relationship with God through contemplative practices.

Follow this to find out more about Strahan or grab a copy of his books

Rich Villodas, pastor & author, joins the podcast to have a conversation on emotional presence, distinction without disconnection, and cultivating curiosity towards others. We talk about Rich's recent book "The Narrow Path" and how the subversive way of Jesus satisfies our souls.

Find out more about Rich or his books here

For many Christians the church has become something of a cultural enigma. People either appreciate it, are skeptical about it, or critical toward it. Is the Church a crutch or a catalyst in the search for meaning? Are churches responsible for creating a place to find purpose? How do we live meaningful lives outside of the church? In this live conversation we talk about identify formation, church gathering and the importance of who we choose to imitate.

Our Guests

Rory Shiner

Rory is the senior pastor at Providence City Church & the Network Director for the Providence Church Network. He is an author, speaker and is the Chair of The Gospel Coalition Australia Council. Rory studied Arts at the University of Western Australia and theology at Moore College in Sydney. His PhD (Macquarie University) is on the life and work of Archbishop Donald Robinson.

Mark Tapping

Mark works with the GoodWork & GoodWork Investments, a collective of investors that back Christian founders to scale their business and help integrate faith in their work and/or community, and JustSow, a non profit that sows money generously in order to see gospel seed scattered abundantly through the work of gospel entrepreneurs and evangelists. He is the co-founder of the Resound Network of Churches: their mission is to work together to strengthen local churches in Asia Pacific towards vibrant health. Mark was formerly the founding/lead pastor at Kingscross Church Perth for the previous 12 years.

Natalie Williams, author & CEO of Jubilee +, joins the podcast to have a conversation around the importance for churches to cultivate a culture of mercy & justice through focusing on local poverty & community needs.

The episode highlights practical applications of mercy in daily life and the importance of holding justice and mercy together in a polarised world.

Follow this link to find out more about Natalie Williams work

Karen Potter, author & host of the Covenant Eyes Podcast, joins this episode to have a conversation that encourages church leadership, educators & Christians alike as they navigate a sexualised culture. We talk about finding our identity in God & how to approach sexuality from a gospel perspective.

To find out more about Covenant Eyes head over to ⁠⁠⁠www.covenanteyes.com⁠⁠⁠

Try it for FREE for 30 days using the code * upside30 *

Caleb Gray has a conversation with Mikey Lynch around the tension between the desire for authentic community and the institutionalised nature of the church. How individualism and the longing for community are factors that shape people's engagement with the church and embodied relationships.

Mikey is an author, the editorial director of TGC Australia, serves as Campus Director of the University Fellowship of Christians & is passionate about supporting gospel growth beyond the church.