Gospel Rant
Straight talk on all topics religious or secular. Interesting and relevant issues that matter. If you are easily offended, welcome.
Episodes
This is Part 7 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.
Luke continues to highlight the powerful themes shaping this early movement—based on legitimate eyewitness accounts. There was a surprising unity, a deep sense of shared purpose, radical generosity, and undeniable power.
So what was going on?
If I had to sum it up for Theophilus, I’d simply say:
“…and much grace was upon them all.” (Acts ...
Remember how this whole series began?
Luke is writing to Theophilus—likely to explain what got into those original disciples of Jesus… and what kept driving the movement over the next 30 years, transforming it into an international phenomenon unlike anything the world had ever seen.
And now, Luke turns up the volume even more.
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This is Part 5 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.
I’m continually amazed by the transformation of Peter.
Who told him he could heal a crippled man?
What if it hadn’t worked?
What if he became a public joke?
Wouldn’t it have been safer—and more practical—to just start a GoFundMe for the guy?
And yet, there he is. Bold. Unfiltered. Taking a wild, Spirit-led risk.
Honestly, don&r...
This is Part 4 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.
What we see here is the visible DNA of Jesus and His Spirit—actively moving through and motivating ordinary people. Because of His presence, these regular folks—people just like us—began to show signs of something radically new:
- A deep and undeniable devotion to the gospel (proskateresis)—a prioritization that hadn’t been there before...
This episode features Chapter 4 of my new book, Before the Couch—specifically Tip #3: “You Can’t Do It!”
Before the Couch is now available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible. It’s not another “try harder” marriage book—the kind you’ve probably already read if your marriage has been struggling. And honestly, how’s that worked out so far?
This book takes a different approach&mda...
Thanks for the great feedback from the last show on Chapter 2 of my newest book, Before the Couch. It is available now on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible. It is not meant to take the same approach as so many other books that, if you are a struggling marriage, you;’ve probably tried. And how’s that going for you.
The approach in Before the Couch has helped lots of Christian couples that came to be ready to call a divorce law...
I’m taking a quick pause in our current series to share some exciting news: my brand-new book for struggling Christian couples, Before the Couch, launches October 1st on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible.
Over the next three episodes, you’ll actually hear three of the most practical and encouraging chapters from the book—right here on the show. My prayer is that this becomes a trusted resource for churches and couples e...
This is the third in our series “The Church The Holy Spirit Built.” The 120 Jesus-followers each individually had some entity that looked to eye-witnesses like tongues of fire come upon them as they were praying at the first of three daily prayer times, during the annual feast of Pentecost. They were crammed into an upper room in the Jerusalem area. Where, according to eyewitness testimony, they each individually were &...
This is the second in our series “The Church The Holy Spirit Built.” Theophilus has contracted Luke to document from living sources what was it in the first thirty years of this new Jesus-movement that caused it to explode throughout the known world in a variety of cultures, demographics, and countries equally—especially among the downtrodden, overlooked and oppressed—that brought hope, honor, and feelings o...
Dr. Bill is beginning a new series on the very important first five chapters of the book of Acts. We call it "The Church The Holy Spirit Built.” Luke is writing the historic overview of the church likely under a commission from a wealthy supporter, Theophilus (God-Lover). Why was Theophilus interested? Because the story of the church in those first months and years was unprecedented, the lives changed, people healed, and even...
Do you want to experience more of the love of God for you today? Tomorrow? The next day?
Bill is joined by Dr. Blane Despres, retired University of British Columbia professor. They will be unpacking John Calvin’s Institutes of Christian Religion Book 3, on the Holy Spirit for the next three podcasts. Calvin header says, The Benefits of Christ Made Available To Us By The Secret Operation of the Spirit.
It is a must read for al...
Welcome to our new God’s Love for the Unlovable and Gospel Rant series and format. We are calling the series Vagabond Diaries. We want it to be fun, informative, and life-changing—something that you would find valuable to pass on to others and laugh and cry together a bit.
This is a lady who I highlight in my third Dance Daughters of the Most High book. Most people have just never heard of her. But she was import...
Do you want to experience more of the love of God for you today? Tomorrow? The next day?
Bill is joined by Dr. Blane Despres, retired University of British Columbia professor. They will be unpacking John Calvin’s Institutes of Christian Religion Book 3, on the Holy Spirit for the next three podcasts. Calvin header says, The Benefits of Christ Made Available To Us By The Secret Operation of the Spirit.
It is a must read for al...
Do you want to experience more of the love of God for you today? Tomorrow? The next day?
Bill is joined by Dr. Blane Despres, retired University of British Columbia professor. They will be unpacking John Calvin’s Institutes of Christian Religion Book 3, on the Holy Spirit for the next three podcasts. Calvin header says, The Benefits of Christ Made Available To Us By The Secret Operation of the Spirit.
It is a must read for al...
This is the very last Vagabond Diaries left—at least for now. Beginning Aug 17, I have a three part dialogue with long time friend, Dr. Blane Despres on John Calvin’s remarkable and overlooked thoughts on the role of the Holy Spirit. Beginning in September, I will look at the first five chapters of Acts, in a series called, The Church The Holy Spirit Built. Lots of fun.
In today’s Vagabond Diary, a tip of th...
Two Vagabond Diaries left. Thanks for all of the positive feedback and interest in the approach. We had fun creating them.
Today, meet Bob and Carol, Christians who struggle in a difficult marriage. They are having that dreaded final meeting with the pastor. What can be done? You’ll see.
This is a part of my newest book on Christian marriages, Before The Couch which will be published in September. It is not like anything else...
WHAT IF HUMANISM REALLY HAD ITS WAY?
Welcome to God’s Love for the Unlovable and Gospel Rant series and format. We are calling the series Vagabond Diaries. We want it to be fun, informative, and life-changing—something that you would find valuable to pass on to others and laugh and cry together a bit.
In today’s Vagabond Diary, a tip of the hat to Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s progress, we will meet Pilgrim...
ARE YOU CURIOUS WHEN EXACTLY JESUS WILL RETURN? BE CAREFUL.
Welcome to God’s Love for the Unlovable and Gospel Rant series and format. We are calling the series Vagabond Diaries. We want it to be fun, informative, and life-changing—something that you would find valuable to pass on to others and laugh and cry together a bit.
In today’s Vagabond Diary, a tip of the hat to Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s progress, we ...
SO HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?
Welcome to our new God’s Love for the Unlovable and Gospel Rant series and format. We are calling the series Vagabond Diaries. We want it to be fun, informative, and life-changing—something that you would find valuable to pass on to others and laugh and cry together a bit.
In today’s Vagabond Diary, we will go to Peter’s great question to Jesus, How should we pray? If you’ve been...
In today’s Vagabond Diary, we will go back to the Last Supper and have some fun—well actually, Vagabond Diaries imagines what it might have looked like if it was done with modern sensibilities. You may be surprised.
Welcome to God’s Love for the Unlovable and Gospel Rant.
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