Season 6: Episode 7 | Jeff Kloha | Does the Bible Influence Today's Culture?

Rev. Charlie Lyons is an ordained minister who has more than 15 years of experience in various pastoral and parachurch ministries. He has worked in national outreach to Canada's youth and pastoral ministry and has also enjoyed serving on the Boards of multiple Canadian faith-based organizations. Charlie is an ordained minister with the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada. He and his wife, Lindsey, reside in Brantford, Ontario, with their three children.
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Listen to Rev. Charlie Lyons, affectionately called ‘Charlie the Chaplain’, who serves as the Ontario Spiritual Care Provider with Leading Influence being interviewed by Joanna la Fleur. Charlie provides spiritual care in the form of non-partisan chaplaincy and pastoral services to members of the Provincial Parliament and their staff at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He is a friend who wants to help these leaders flourish, and recognizes that there are times that they, like others who have high stress jobs need rest and rejuvenation. Charlie tries to bring that refreshment and prays for them and with them, for personal and professional concerns - for wisdom, discernment, and patience. 

Rev. Charlie Lyons is an ordained minister who has more than 15 years of experience in various pastoral and parachurch ministries. He has worked in national outreach to Canada's youth and pastoral ministry, and has also enjoyed serving on the Boards of multiple Canadian faith-based organizations. Charlie is an ordained minister with the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada. He and his wife, Lindsey, reside in Brantford, Ontario, with their three children.

Learn more about Charlie Lyons: leadinginfluence.com/meetcharlie/

Instagram: instagram.com/charliethechaplain/

Listen to Rev. Charlie Lyons, affectionately called ‘Charlie the Chaplain’, who serves as the Ontario Spiritual Care Provider with Leading Influence being interviewed by Joanna la Fleur. Charlie provides spiritual care in the form of non-partisan chaplaincy and pastoral services to members of the Provincial Parliament and their staff at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He is a friend who wants to help these leaders flourish, and recognizes that there are times that they, like others who have high stress jobs need rest and rejuvenation. Charlie tries to bring that refreshment and prays for them and with them, for personal and professional concerns - for wisdom, discernment, and patience. 

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Rev. Charlie Lyons is an ordained minister who has more than 15 years of experience in various pastoral and parachurch ministries. He has worked in national outreach to Canada's youth and pastoral ministry, and has also enjoyed serving on the Boards of multiple Canadian faith-based organizations. Charlie is an ordained minister with the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada. He and his wife, Lindsey, reside in Brantford, Ontario, with their three children.

Learn more about Charlie Lyons: leadinginfluence.com/meetcharlie/

Instagram: instagram.com/charliethechaplain/

We are called to cultivate listening communities in a society that does not listen well and that does not fear God. I believe we must speak confidently, faithfully, boldly, and courageously. If I stand up in my congregation and they don't trust that I believe what I'm saying, that I am who I say I am, that I am a Christian, then the appeals to emotion, the appeals even to the Word will probably fall on doubting ears and heart. I never take that trust for granted and I work to earn it every single day of my life.
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Listen to Rev. Dr. Connie Phillipson being interviewed by CBS Ambassador Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling. Prior to Connie's call to ordained ministry within the Anglican Church, she worked in Ontario’s criminal justice system for over 30 years. In this episode, Connie talks about her close relationship with God which started at a young age and how she came to realize that He was calling her to serve. She describes how we are all capable of falling from grace and deserving of redemption.

Rev. Dr. Connie Phillipson has served at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto), St. Mark’s Anglican Church (Orangeville), and as the Incumbent of St. George’s Anglican Church (Utopia) and Christ Church-St. Jude’s Anglican Church (Ivy). In January 2024, she assumed responsibility as Interim Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Haliburton.

Prior to her call to ordained ministry, Connie worked for 30+ years within the Ontario criminal justice system. At the outset of her career with the Ministry of Correctional Services, Connie provided social work services to inmates and supervised clients on probation and parole. She fulfilled her desire to superintend a large maximum-security male institution when she was appointed Superintendent of the Toronto (Don) Jail. In addition, she held senior management positions at the Toronto East and Toronto West Detention Centres, the Mimico Correctional Centre, Toronto City Hall Court Services, as well as various corporate positions in policy and program development. In 2000, Connie became the first Executive Director to the York Regional Police Services Board and when she retired in 2009, she continued her studies at Wycliffe College.

Connie graduated from the University of Toronto with her Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, Master of Social Work, Master of Education, and Master of Divinity (Honours) degrees. In 2022, she received her Doctor of Ministry Degree in Preaching from Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Learn more about Connie Phillipson: https://www.haliburtonanglican.org/staff

Listen to Rev. Dr. Connie Phillipson being interviewed by CBS Ambassador Rev. Dr. Andrew Stirling. Prior to Connie's call to ordained ministry within the Anglican Church, she worked in Ontario’s criminal justice system for over 30 years. In this episode, Connie talks about her close relationship with God which started at a young age and how she came to realize that He was calling her to serve. She describes how we are all capable of falling from grace and deserving of redemption.

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Rev. Dr. Connie Phillipson has served at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto), St. Mark’s Anglican Church (Orangeville), and as the Incumbent of St. George’s Anglican Church (Utopia) and Christ Church-St. Jude’s Anglican Church (Ivy). In January 2024, she assumed responsibility as Interim Priest-in-Charge of St. George’s Anglican Church (Haliburton). 

Prior to her call to ordained ministry, Connie worked for 30+ years within the Ontario criminal justice system. At the outset of her career with the Ministry of Correctional Services, Connie provided social work services to inmates and supervised clients on probation and parole. She fulfilled her desire to superintend a large maximum-security male institution when she was appointed Superintendent of the Toronto (Don) Jail. In addition, she held senior management positions at the Toronto East and Toronto West Detention Centres, the Mimico Correctional Centre, Toronto City Hall Court Services, as well as various corporate positions in policy and program development. In 2000, Connie became the first Executive Director to the York Regional Police Services Board and when she retired in 2009, she continued her studies at Wycliffe College.

Connie graduated from the University of Toronto with her Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, Master of Social Work, Master of Education, and Master of Divinity (Honours) degrees. In 2022, she received her Doctor of Ministry Degree in Preaching from Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Learn more about Connie Phillipson: haliburtonanglican.org/staff

I think a very common, I would say, misperception is that the Bible has been a source of even evil in the world. People think it's done harm in the world. And what we show is that some very core elements of our culture and society come from the Bible. Human rights, for example, the idea that all people are created in the image of God, right, endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, right, comes from our foundational documents in our country, but it's based on Genesis 1 and 2, and that all people are created in the image of God and therefore of value and have rights and dignity. So that wouldn't exist without the Bible. That's a unique contribution of the Bible. The healthcare was invented by Christians, the idea that all people, again, have value, they should be cared for. You know, Jesus says, when I was sick, you cared for me. The whole idea of hospitals and the practice of hospitals and healthcare comes from the Bible.

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Listen to Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, Chief Curatorial Officer at the Museum of the Bible, in Washington, DC being interviewed by seasoned journalist Lorna Dueck. Jeff shares the Museum of the Bible's mission which invites all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible and walks us through the main themes of the museum: history of the Bible, impact of the Bible on culture, and basic stories/narrative of the Bible. He inspires us to think about the impact and influence of the Bible on culture, art, music, and human rights.

Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, the Museum of the Bible's Chief Curatorial Officer joined the museum in 2017 and manages and executes the strategic plans for the museum's Bible Education, Scholars Initiative, Exhibits, Curatorial, and Collections departments. 

Jeff previously served 18 years as professor of New Testament at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and also served Concordia as provost/chief academic officer. During that time, he oversaw two accreditation processes, transitioned the institution from quarters to semesters, steered the development of new curricula and managed strategic planning for the institution. He earned the PhD from the University of Leeds.

His areas of teaching and research include the textual and canonical history of the early Christian writings, hermeneutics, and the Pauline Epistles. Jeff is co-editor of Texts and Traditions: Essays in Honour of J. K. Elliott (Brill, 2014) and The Press of the Text: Biblical Studies in Honor of James W. Voelz (Pickwick, 2017). He has published peer-reviewed essays in the areas of New Testament textual criticism and the use of New Testament texts in early Christianity. He is a frequent conference presenter, radio guest, and television documentary commentator.

Learn more about Jeff Kloha: museumofthebible.org/who-we-are 

Listen to Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, Chief Curatorial Officer at the Museum of the Bible, in Washington, DC being interviewed by seasoned journalist Lorna Dueck. Jeff shares the Museum of the Bible's mission which invites all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible and walks us through the main themes of the museum: history of the Bible, impact of the Bible on culture, and basic stories/narrative of the Bible. He inspires us to think about the impact and influence of the Bible on culture, art, music, and human rights.

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, the Museum of the Bible's Chief Curatorial Officer joined the museum in 2017 and manages and executes the strategic plans for the museum's Bible Education, Scholars Initiative, Exhibits, Curatorial, and Collections departments. 

Jeff previously served 18 years as professor of New Testament at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and also served Concordia as provost/chief academic officer. During that time, he oversaw two accreditation processes, transitioned the institution from quarters to semesters, steered the development of new curricula and managed strategic planning for the institution. He earned the PhD from the University of Leeds.

His areas of teaching and research include the textual and canonical history of the early Christian writings, hermeneutics, and the Pauline Epistles. Jeff is co-editor of Texts and Traditions: Essays in Honour of J. K. Elliott (Brill, 2014) and The Press of the Text: Biblical Studies in Honor of James W. Voelz (Pickwick, 2017). He has published peer-reviewed essays in the areas of New Testament textual criticism and the use of New Testament texts in early Christianity. He is a frequent conference presenter, radio guest, and television documentary commentator.

Learn more about Jeff Kloha: museumofthebible.org/who-we-are 

To be a true reflection of God now, a true mirror, an image bearer of God now, in the world now, and to actually share in His purpose as an ambassador, a reflection of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 - 21 is a key Scripture in this book that you're brand new, you're not sort of new, you're not that old self, you don't define yourself by that old man, that old nature, that old sin. You have a brand-new nature, you're a brand-new person in Christ, and you have, you get to share in His purpose and walk in His authority right now. And that's the clarion call in this book, is that everything that was lost in the garden has been found in Jesus. Will you take it up? Will you live out of the truth of all that's been found for you, and live with meaning and purpose and power in your life? Because that's where you find your true identity. It's all found in Jesus.
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Listen to Lorie Hartshorn, an acclaimed international speaker, author, and Bible teacher being interviewed by Joanna la Fleur. Lorie recently left her role as co-host of The 700 Club Canada, and finished her new book entitled, Found - which is about identity, and how to find our true identity in Christ. She inspires us to take up the call to live out our true identity and true authority as children of God - to live with greater purpose and power and be a clear reflection of God in the world.

Lorie Hartshorn is an acclaimed international speaker, author, and Bible teacher and a beacon of warmth and inspiration in her role for the last 5 years as co-host of The 700 Club Canada daily TV show. With a passion for making Jesus known and empowering individuals to fulfill their God-given potential, Lorie’s journey reflects a commitment to spiritual growth and leadership.

Having dedicated 21 years to education, Lorie brings a wealth of experience as a teacher. She further honed her leadership skills as the Director of Advancement for EQUIP Leadership Canada, founded by Dr. John C. Maxwell, where she contributed to training leaders globally.

Lorie holds a master’s degree in theological studies from Tyndale Seminary. Her dedication to fostering a sense of community was evident in her role as the pastor of Adult Ministries at Sanctus Church, where she oversaw the Small Group Ministry, fostering connections and spiritual growth within the congregation.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Lorie finds joy in cottage life, meaningful conversations, and the richness of community.

Learn more about Lorie Hartshorn: loriehartshorn.com

Listen to Lorie Hartshorn, an acclaimed international speaker, author, and Bible teacher being interviewed by Joanna la Fleur. Lorie recently left her role as co-host of the 700 Club Canada, and finished her new book entitled, Found - which is about identity, and how to find our true identity in Christ. She inspires us to take up the call to live out our true identity and true authority as children of God - to live with greater purpose and power and be a clear reflection of God in the world.

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Lorie Hartshorn is an acclaimed international speaker, author, and Bible teacher and a beacon of warmth and inspiration in her role for the last 5 years as co-host of The 700 Club Canada daily TV show. With a passion for making Jesus known and empowering individuals to fulfill their God-given potential, Lorie’s journey reflects a commitment to spiritual growth and leadership.

Having dedicated 21 years to education, Lorie brings a wealth of experience as a teacher. She further honed her leadership skills as the Director of Advancement for EQUIP Leadership Canada, founded by Dr. John C. Maxwell, where she contributed to training leaders globally.

Lorie holds a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Tyndale Seminary. Her dedication to fostering a sense of community was evident in her role as the pastor of Adult Ministries at Sanctus Church, where she oversaw the Small Group Ministry, fostering connections and spiritual growth within the congregation.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Lorie finds joy in cottage life, meaningful conversations, and the richness of community.

Learn more about Lorie Hartshorn: loriehartshorn.com

It's not that the quest of happiness will fail. It's just that you're missing out on a deeper, qualitatively richer version of happiness if you try and do it in your own strength. And so that's where we talk about, I think, point to Scripture where the Bible actually doesn't say that much about happiness. It's not actually that interested in our happiness. What it says a lot about is joy. And here's where we talk about the one thing that you could say, for almost every ideal and pursuit of the modern mind, and kind of the modern, intelligent, educated person is that what the Bible offers is not something that's just quantitatively different. So, it's not saying: Come to Jesus and you'll be more happy. It's saying: Come to Jesus, and you'll have something that's qualitatively better than happiness. Christian joy just holds. It holds kind of above the storms, regardless of what's happening. So, there is a level of lasting certainty and majesty to what the Bible offers, and joy is one good example as opposed to human generated happiness.
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Listen to Max Jeganathan, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity and Adjunct Speaker for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics being interviewed by seasoned journalist Lorna Dueck. Max talk abouts how happiness comes and goes but Christian joy holds regardless of what's happening. He describes the Bible as a theological document/declaration, not a political one. "It's the way God communicates to us about who He is and who we are, and how He wants us to relate to Him and to one another." he says. Max also talks about sin being something that we are, that it's not based on performance. "Sin is actually an intrinsic brokenness, that explains a break in relationship with God, a relationship that we were all made for." 

Max Jeganathan is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) and an Adjunct Speaker for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). He has spoken in businesses, universities and legal and political institutions, including the University of Oxford, Imperial College, advisers in Canada’s National Parliament, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Samsung, Lego, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Amazon. 

Born in Sri Lanka, Max’s family moved to Australia as refugees in the mid 1980s. He has worked as a lawyer (civil litigation) and a political & policy adviser in the Australian National Parliament. Max was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford, and is currently undertaking a PhD in Law. He speaks on the intersection between ethics, faith, culture, economics, law, finance and technology. Max lives in Sydney with his wife Fiona and their three young children.

Listen or watch Max Jeganathan, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity and Adjunct Speaker for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics being interviewed by seasoned journalist Lorna Dueck. Max talk abouts how happiness comes and goes but Christian joy holds regardless of what's happening. He describes the Bible as a theological document/declaration, not a political one. "It's the way God communicates to us about who He is and who we are, and how He wants us to relate to Him and to one another." he says. Max also talks about sin being something that we are, that it's not based on performance. "Sin is actually an intrinsic brokenness, that explains a break in relationship with God, a relationship that we were all made for." 

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Learn more about the Canadian Bible Society: biblesociety.ca

Help people hear God speak: biblesociety.ca/donate

Connect with us on Instagram: @canadianbiblesociety

Whether you’re well-versed in Scripture or just starting out on your journey, The Bible Course offers a superb overview of the world’s best-selling book.  This eight-session course will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible. Watch the first session of The Bible Course and learn more at biblecourse.ca. 

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Max Jeganathan is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) and an Adjunct Speaker for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). He has spoken in businesses, universities and legal and political institutions, including the University of Oxford, Imperial College, advisers in Canada’s National Parliament, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Samsung, Lego, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Amazon. 

Born in Sri Lanka, Max’s family moved to Australia as refugees in the mid 1980s. He has worked as a lawyer (civil litigation) and a political & policy adviser in the Australian National Parliament. Max was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford, and is currently undertaking a PhD in Law. He speaks on the intersection between ethics, faith, culture, economics, law, finance and technology. Max lives in Sydney with his wife Fiona and their three young children.

Learn more about Max Jeganathan: linkedin.com/in/maxprijeg