
The Speak Life Podcast
Speak Life with Glen Scrivener, Naomi Brehm and Thomas Thorogood.Christian News & CultureConnecting the Christian faith and modern life.
Episodes
693- · 18 minFaith is Not What You Think || SLP692
Is a "leap of faith" the best way of considering belief? If not, what are the alternatives? And how does the Bible speak into this question? Check out Through the Bible: https://speaklife.org.uk/ttb Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 58 minThis Miracles Expert Just Changed the Debate (Craig Keener) || SLP691
Glen Scrivener interviews Dr Craig Keener, an expert in miracle claims from throughout church history who has regularly been cited by Ethan Muse, Joe Schmid, Cameron Bertuzzi and Noah McKay. What does he make of so-called 'Catholic vindicatory miracles'? Craig Keener's YouTube channel: @CraigKeenerPhD Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 1h 11mSpeaking Life #5 - Doubts, Questions and Apologetics || SLP690
What about the tough questions? Join Glen Scrivener and Naomi Brehm as we continue our Autumn series on ‘Speaking Life’. In this episode, Naomi grills Glen on his approach to defending his Christian faith. Listen in for: What “apologetics” is, what it isn’t, who it’s for A fresh look at 1 Peter 3:15 and Acts 17 Why Glen is a reluctant “Cultural Apologist” Glen’s diagnosis of today’s cultural climate in the UK. Recommended resources: Apologetics at the Cross - Joshua D. Chatraw & Mark D. Allen The Gospel After Christendom: An Introduction to Cultural Apologetics - from The Keller Centre for Cultural Apologetics The Reason for God - Tim Keller Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis END OF SERIES Q&A: Ask Glen, Naomi and Thomas anything! Send in your questions and reflections to podcast@speaklife.org.uk by 15th November 2026. Enjoying the series? You'll love Glen's book, "How To Speak Life: Sharing Your Faith in 321". Try out our BRAND NEW course, Through The Bible. You can help us develop the prototype by watching and giving us a bunch of feedback. (Thanks in advance!) _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 58 minWhat Can Christians Do About Halloween? || SLP689
What is Halloween, where does it come from and how can we see it through the lens of Jesus? Join Naomi Brehm, Eleanor Politzer and Thomas Thorogood as they discuss... The knotted history of Halloween The dangers of engaging with Halloween The dangers of not engaging with Halloween What an ideal 'Allhallowtide' might look like “Halloween is not something to fear. It's an opportunity to meet your neighbours with the love of Jesus! Check out Light the Night for top tips on how to share Jesus on 31st October.” Greg Basch on Instagram: Screwtape on Halloween Shoutout to James Harleman, whose Halloween episode for Popcorn Theology was very helpful in researching the history of Halloween. Try out our BRAND NEW course, Through The Bible. You can help us develop the prototype by watching and giving us a bunch of feedback. (Thanks in advance!) Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 1h 7mSpeaking Life #4 - Conversations That Matter || SLP688
How can more of our conversations feature Jesus? Join Glen Scrivener and Naomi Brehm as they continue our Autumn series on ‘Speaking Life’. In this episode, we cover: How making space in conversations is a form of hospitality Different kinds of questions and when to ask them How good conversations become Jesus conversations Why exposing our own ignorance and unearthing difference is a gift END OF SERIES Q&A: Ask Glen, Naomi and Thomas anything! Send in your questions and reflections to podcast@speaklife.org.uk by 15th November 2026. Enjoying the series? You'll love Glen's book, "How To Speak Life: Sharing Your Faith in 321". Try out our BRAND NEW course, Through The Bible. You can help us develop the prototype by watching and giving us a bunch of feedback. (Thanks in advance!) _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 1h 2mRebirth Confirmed? Studies Reveal Surge in New Christians || SLP687
Glen Scrivener interviews Peter Lynas from the Evangelical Alliance and Dr Samuel Tunnicliffe from Ligonier Ministries about their recent survey data supporting a growing number of evangelicals in the UK. Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 21 minWhy is Trump Rethinking This Execution? || SLP686
On December 3rd Nidal Hasan is to be executed by firing squad but how public will this be. Donald Trump seems to be questioning the Pentagon's plans to livestream the event. Why? And what do we learn about life, death, justice and God? Glen Scrivener reacts. Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 1h 27mSpeaking Life #3 - Christ in the Culture Wars || SLP685
How can Christians speak life into the hot-button issues of our time? Join Glen Scrivener and Thomas Thorogood as they explore the fracturing of our culture into Pre-Christian, Christian, Post-Christian and Post-Post-Christian. We then play a game: taking turns to draw cultural moments from a bowl and see them through the lens of Jesus. Enjoying the series? You'll love Glen's book, "How To Speak Life: Sharing Your Faith in 321". We love hearing from our listeners. Shoot over your reflections and questions to podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 21 minThe Age of Hitler is Passing — What Now? || SLP684
Glen Scrivener comments on Tucker Carlson's debate with Jacob Rees-Mogg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDwKfFV8eCU&t Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 1h 8mSpeaking Life #2 - “The Gospel” Isn’t A Thing… || SLP683
…it’s a person. Join Glen Scrivener and Naomi Brehm as they continue our Autumn series on ‘Speaking Life’. What is “the seed” sown in Mark 4? What does it actually mean to “share the gospel”? In this episode, we consider some popular methods for articulating the core beliefs of the Christian faith, including: The Bridge Diagram The 4 Points Two Ways to Live The Hero’s Creed Wordless Book/Bracelet 321 …plus the main thing that has transformed our understanding of “the gospel”. Any comments, critiques, questions? We’d love to hear them, podcast@speaklife.org.uk Listen to John Mark Comer’s teaching on “The Four American Gospels” here. Try out our BRAND NEW course, Through The Bible. You can help us develop the prototype by watching and giving us a bunch of feedback. (Thanks in advance!) _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 24 min3 Things Catholics Get Right || SLP682
Glen Scrivener responds to Trent Horn's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Zehdos8tk&t Watch Glen's video about why Protestantism at its best does take history seriously: https://youtu.be/6ifIorHBXiw 00:00 Three Things Catholics Get Right 01:31 1. A Sense of History 05:06 2. Integrity 11:00 3. Church 19:07 The Protestant Missionary Impulse 21:22 Celebrating the Spirit Across Denominations 23:26 Let's Appreciate One Another 23:45 Do 321: Based On Truths All Christians Celebrate Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 48 minAre Miracles the Best Route to Faith? Even Rome Says NO. || SLP681
Glen Scrivener responds to a new departure in Catholic apologetics: vindicatory miracles. He compares this new emphasis to the teaching of Cardinal Ratzinger, Vatican I and II, and—most importantly—Scripture. This is not "route one" to faith, nor is it "route one" to Rome. Even Rome disagrees with that. Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 1h 41mPhilosopher Pressed on Outrageous Claim || SLP680
Matthew Adelstein is the author of a viral article: Insects Matter More Than Humans In the Aggregate. https://x.com/benthamsbulldog/status/2100976897140179388?s Here he gives his first interview since the controversy blew up and Glen Scrivener presses him on the argument, its implications and whether Christianity might shed light on the controversy. Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 57 minSpeaking Life #1 - How to Fail at Evangelism || SLP679
“Evangelism is hit and miss… mostly miss”. Join Glen Scrivener and Naomi Brehm as we begin our Autumn series on ‘Speaking Life’. In this episode, we dive into Jesus’ story of the sower from Mark 4. As we ‘share Jesus’ with a variety of people and responses, what does ‘success’ look like? What’s the strategy? Enjoying the series? You'll love Glen's book, "How To Speak Life: Sharing Your Faith in 321". We love hearing from our listeners. Any agricultural insights, theological corrections, mini-revelations? Shoot over your reflections and questions to podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 33 minHow Did Christianity Triumph? Bart Ehrman Has a Theory || SLP678
Glen Scrivener responds to Bart Ehrman who discusses the surprising success of early Christianity. Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 16 minTop Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman Presses Steven Bartlett on Prayer || SLP677
Glen Scrivener reacts to Andrew Huberman on Diary of a CEO talking about the benefits of prayer. Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 1h 58mIs This Famous Skeptic (Joe Schmid) a New CS Lewis? || SLP676
Glen responds to Joe Schmid's (@MajestyofReason) conversion to Catholicism. 00:00 What's Happened with Joe Schmidt? 06:40 Joe Schmid and the Cross: Centrepiece or Afterthought? 11:52 Joe Schmidt and C.S. Lewis: Compare and Contrast 15:50 Lewis's Conversion: Transcending Rationalism with Myth 22:24 Schmid's Conversion: Transcending Rationalism with Miracles 24:29 The Fork in the Road: Meaning or Certainty? 26:08 Joe's Conversion Moment 32:19 The Protestant-Catholic Spiral: Mutual Polarisation 40:23 The Place of Evidence in Persuasion 44:09 4 Non-Catholic Explanations of Catholic Miracles 48:12 Earthly Explanations: The World, the Flesh and the Devil 55:48 Demonic Explanations and Joe Schmid's 4 Tests 58:38 Why Biblical Tests Undermine Schmid's Approach 01:09:17 Lewis's Test: Conformity to the Great Miracle—Christ 01:14:05 "Nature and Grace" — Different Visions 01:18:46 Heavenly Explanations That Deny the Miracles Are Vindicatory 01:30:39 Heavenly Explanations That Deny Roman Supremacy 01:32:29 CS Lewis's Objections to Roman Supremacy 01:38:52 CS Lewis on the Source of the Church's Unity 01:43:00 The Achilles Head of Roman Catholicism 01:46:14 Schmid's Approach Undermines Certainty and Mission 01:49:57 How Should Protestants Respond to Schmid's Call? 01:55:04 A Counter-Offer to Joe Schmid 01:57:21 Invitation to Free Course: 321 Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 1h 19mIs Our View of The Cross Too Small? || SLP675
“Jesus died so that…” How would you finish the sentence? Join Glen Scrivener and Naomi Brehm as they explore different images the Bible gives us to understand the mystery of what Christ has done. In this episode, we meander through the law courts, the temple, the market, the home and the battlefield as we consider the Bible’s language of “justification”, “propitiation”, “representation”, “redemption”, “adoption” and “victory”. You’ll want a Bible for this one - or follow along with Romans 3 online here. Recommended mentions: Evangelism in a Sceptical World, Sam Chan (book) The Cross of Christ, John Stott (book) It was Finished Upon That Cross, City Alight (song) Which image resonates with you most? Any surprises? What did we miss? Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, suggestions and questions: podcast@speaklife.org.uk Come and see how the cross fits into the bigger story of reality at 321course.com _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 20 minThese New Converts Took the Same Advice — You Can Too || SLP674
Glen Scrivener explores the recent conversions of Joe Weller, Brian Guan and Joe Schmid. What do they have in common? Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show
- · 58 minBrian Guan: Pretended to Believe for 30 Days... Then THIS Happened || SLP673
Glen Scrivener interviews Brian Guan, the Instagram influencer who decided to try Christianity for 30 days. Send us your mini-revelations, stories, disagreements, questions and hot takes: podcast@speaklife.org.uk _____________________________ Enjoy seeing life through the lens of Jesus? Here’s where to find more Speak Life content: 321course.com // YouTube // Instagram // Website Support the show