Christ is the centre of the Christian Bible

Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew is a podcast based on the book of the same name by Dr. Michael Bird, a super-series designed to help you get past seven of the most common mistakes Christians make when it comes to the Bible.

This episode, chapter 7: Christ is the centre of the Christian Bible. The Old Testament heads towards a certain climax, and Jesus is the goal of that biblical storyline.

We begin with a reading from Dr. Bird's book on the adult benefits of The Jesus Storybook Bible. Then Mike Bird interviews the Reverend Megan Curlis Gibson on why Christ is the goal of all scripture and what that means for us.

Rev. Culis-Gibson has over two decades of experience preaching and leading in Anglican churches and schools in Melbourne, Australia. She is currently the senior minister at Deep Creek Anglican Church where her thoughtful approach to Biblical preaching is helping people grow authentic, relevant and experiential faith in Christ. So who better to talk to than Megan when we’re trying to see why Christ is the centre of the Christian Bible.

Want to dig into more of the detail? Click here to purchase your own copy of 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew.

Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew is a podcast based on the book of the same name by Dr. Michael Bird, a super-series designed to help you get past seven of the most common mistakes Christians make when it comes to the Bible.

This episode, chapter 6: The purpose of scripture is knowledge, faith, love, and hope. Scripture is not a divine list of Life Hacks. It has a greater purpose than providing good tips on parenting, work habits, marriage, and more.

We begin with a reading from Dr. Bird's book, that helps us understand how soaking ourselves in Scripture helps cultivate virtue, curate our character, and conform ourselves to the pattern of Christ. Then Mike Bird interviews Aimee Byrd on knowing God, coming to faith, and expressing real love for God and others.

Aimee Byrd is a respected speaker, writer, and self-described ‘old school blogger’. She’s also the author of five books including, Housewife Theologian, Theological Fitness, and Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. All of which makes Aimee just the person we want to speak to when we’re trying to understand why the purpose of Scripture is knowledge, faith, love, and hope.

Want to dig into more of the detail? Click here to purchase your own copy of 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew.

Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew is a podcast based on the book of the same name by Dr. Michael Bird, a super-series designed to help you get past seven of the most common mistakes Christians make when it comes to the Bible.

This episode, chapter 5: We should take the Bible seriously but not always literally. While often treated as a badge of honour, taking the Bible literally regularly becomes a pointless distraction from the real struggle to discern God’s will in Holy Scripture.

We begin with a reading from Dr. Bird's book, outlining the various sources for understanding the Bible's meaning. Then Mike Bird interviews the Rev. Andrew Judd on tips for faithfully interpreting the Bible today.

The Rev. Judd is a lecturer in foundational Old Testament subjects at Ridley College in Melbourne. He also has an extensive history of working in pastoral contexts - including with students at St Barnabas Broadway and in the residential colleges of Sydney University. He also spent years at City on a Hill church in Melbourne, where he served as Community Pastor. Meaning Andrew has the perfect mix of academic and pastoral knowledge to help us understand why the Bible should be taken seriously but not always literally.

Want to dig into more of the detail? Click here to purchase your own copy of 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew.

Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew is a podcast based on the book of the same name by Dr. Michael Bird, a super-series designed to help you get past seven of the most common mistakes Christians make when it comes to the Bible.

This episode, chapter 4: The Bible is for our time not about our time. When we read the Bible, we are entering into a historically and culturally distant world and we must “mind the gap” as they say on the London Tube.

We begin with a reading from Dr. Bird's book about the importance of understanding the specific situation of its authors. Then Mike Bird interviews Dr. Lyn Kidson on how to respect our historical distance from the text so we don't distort its meaning.

Dr. Kidson is a lecturer in New Testament at Alpha Crucis College who specialises in the Pastoral Epistles. She is also an honorary postdoctoral associate at Macquarie University and a regular presenter at academic conferences, as well as being a committee member for the Society for the Study of Early Christianity. So all up, she's a great person to help us understand why the Bible is for our time but not about our time.

Want to dig into more of the detail? Click here to purchase your own copy of 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew.

Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew is a podcast based on the book of the same name by Dr. Michael Bird, a super-series designed to help you get past seven of the most common mistakes Christians make when it comes to the Bible.

This episode, chapter 3: Scripture is normative not negotiable. It has direct implications for standards of human behviour. It isn't a long list of suggestions.

First up, a reading from Dr. Bird's book, examining how to read the Old Testament now that the New Testament has arrived. Then Mike interviews Dr. Brian Rosner to help us understand how theology develops over time and hold the balance between sitting over scripture and being crushed by it.

Dr. Rosner has three degrees from three different countries, culminating in a prize-winning Cambridge University PhD. He has lectured in New Testament at the University of Aberdeen, Ethics and New Testament at Moore Theological College, and he is now the Principal of Ridley College. He’s also a member of the international society of New Testament scholars, a member of the Holman Christian Standard Bible Translation Oversight Committee, and the author or editor of a dozen books. So Brian is the perfect person to help us understand why the Bible is normative, not negotiable

Want to dig into more of the detail? Click here to purchase your own copy of 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew.

Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew is a podcast based on the book of the same name by Dr. Michael Bird, a super-series designed to help you get past seven of the most common mistakes Christians make when it comes to the Bible.

This episode, chapter 2: The Bible is divinely given and humanly composed. That’s right two authors. There is more than one way to consider how God used humans to give us the Bible we have today.

We begin with a reading from Dr. Bird's book, tackling the various different theories relating to Divine Inspiration. Then Mike Bird interviews Dr. Peter Williams on how we've come to understand inspiration today.

Dr. Williams has been a Senior Lecturer in New Testament, at the University of Aberdeen … and a Research Fellow in Old Testament at Tyndale House, Cambridge, where he is currently the Principal. So Peter is exactly the person we want to explain to us how the Bible is divinely given and humanly composed.

Want to dig into more of the detail? Click here to purchase your own copy of 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew.

Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew is a podcast based on the book of the same name by Dr. Michael Bird, a super-series designed to help you get past seven of the most common mistakes Christians make when it comes to the Bible.

This episode, chapter 1: The Bible didn’t fall from the sky - sounds obvious? You’d be surprised by how many Christians act as though it did.

First up, a reading from Dr. Bird's book, tackling the early history of the Bible. Then Mark Hadley interviews Mike for a whirlwind tour of the events that led up to the English Bible we have today.

Want to dig into more of the detail? Click here to purchase your own copy of 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew.