The Simple Faith Podcast: Recent Episodes
Dave and Sharaya Betts
Exploring simple, authentic Christianity for normal people.
Hosts Dave and Sharaya Betts explore the Christian faith, covering broad topics as broad as the Bible's overarching narrative, how the church came to be what it is today, tackling popular church myths and wrestling with tough subjects like LGBT, anxiety and depression, and grief.
We don't promise to have all the answers, but we promise that we'll wrestle through them with you!
It's the END of the Simple Faith Podcast for now. Join Dave and Sharaya Betts as they reflect on the joys, struggles, and lessons from over 60 episodes of the show.
In the final episode of our church history series, Dave discusses the last 500 or so years of the church, where things are at in 2021, and what the future might hold for post-COVID followers of Jesus.
Make sure to tune in next week for our LAST episode!
In this episode, Dave shares some huge news about the future of the Simple Faith Podcast, and dives into the story of a hugely important period in the history of the church: the Reformation.
Church history is crazy!
As we continue our journey through the history of the church, today we're looking at the King who stood barefoot in the snow before a power-hungry Pope, the nasty realities of the Crusades, and even how for a brief period, there were three Popes at once!
There's a lot going on in the first 500 years of the Christian faith. Join Dave Betts as we dive right into the foundational years of the Church, looking at things like:
- Temples being destroyed
- The rise of the Bible
- The salvation of an emperor
- The first Pope
- How the church went from persecution to powerhouse in a few decades!
Have you ever wondered how the church became what it is today?
Over the course of the next few weeks, we're taking a dive into the history of the church from Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension all the way up to now.
This week, we're going to zoom out and blast through 2,000 years of history in just 20 minutes, before delving a bit deeper into specific time periods in the weeks to come. We hope you find it as fascinating as we do!
The Bible is clear that God brings divine healing. Sometimes He even miraculously heals today. But perhaps the most difficult question to wrestle with is this: what if God doesn't bring healing? In this episode, we do our very best to answer that difficult question.
Over the course of a four-episode series, Dave Betts is joined by Simon Argent to take a explore the concept of divine healing, asking the following questions:
Part 1: Does God heal in the Bible? Does God heal today? Part 2: Is divine healing guaranteed? Part 3: As Christians, What is our role in divine healing? Part 4: What if healing doesn't come?
So far, we've seen that God heals in the Bible, and still heals today - even if we won't necessarily experience the fullness of that healing until Jesus returns.
The logical next question for episode 3 is this: As Christians, what is our role in the arena of divine healing? Let's talk.
Over the course of a four-episode series, Dave Betts is joined by Simon Argent to take a explore the concept of divine healing, asking the following questions:
Part 1: Does God heal in the Bible? Does God heal today? Part 2: Is divine healing guaranteed? Part 3: As Christians, What is our role in divine healing? Part 4: What if healing doesn't come?
Last week, we arrived at the conclusion that God heals in the Bible, and that it's logically reasonable to believe that God still heals today. In this week's episode, we ask the question, is that healing guaranteed? Or to put it another way, does God always heal today?
Over the course of a four-episode series, Dave Betts is joined by Simon Argent to take a explore the concept of divine healing, asking the following questions:
Part 1: Does God heal in the Bible? Does God heal today?
Part 2: Is divine healing guaranteed?
Part 3: As Christians, What is our role in divine healing?
Part 4: What if healing doesn't come?
Does God bring about miraculous healing today? As Christians, what is our role in divine healing? What do we do if healing doesn't come?
The question of healing is a big (and sometimes controversial) one. Over the course of a four-episode series, Dave Betts is joined by Simon Argent to take a deep dive into the world of divine healing, asking the following questions:
Part 1: Does God heal in the Bible? Does God heal today?
Part 2: Is divine healing guaranteed?
Part 3: As Christians, What is our role in divine healing?
Part 4: What if healing doesn't come?
We all know the story of Noah and the Flood in Gen. 6-9, but did it really happen? If so, how does that tie in with the age of the earth? And what about dinosaurs? How can we reconcile science with the Bible?
Dave Betts is joined again by geolist Dr Melia to discuss some possible explanations and possibilities.
How old is the earth? What about evolution and the Bible? What's the big deal? In this episode, Dave Betts is joined by Dr Melia, a geologist with a PhD in Geomorphology, to talk about this big - and sometimes controversial - topic.
The Gospel, or "Good News" of Jesus is central to the Christian faith. Yet, so often, we as believers assume it's a basic truth that we wrestle with before moving onto something more important.
In this episode, Dave Betts is joined by Steve Janz as they discuss why the Gospel is crucial in all aspects of life, and a reality that we can dwell in for our entire lives.
Steve Janz pastored for many years across Canada and is now the Executive Director of Millar College of the Bible's Sunnybrae campus.
In the final episode of our 'Church Mythbusters' series, host Dave Betts discusses the myth that there is a singular "best way" to do church and the importance of different expressions of the body of Christ in the contemporary Church.
This week host Dave Betts dives into the world of volunteering in the church, tackling a subtle but dangerous myth that if you volunteer more, you must therefore be more 'spiritual.'
Why do some people feel like the Church is just after their money? It's a statement we've heard dozens of times over the year, and -- apart from a few unique cases -- couldn't be further from the truth.
Where has this myth come from? And what does the Bible say? Host Dave Betts is joined by Dave Rogers to see if they can get to the bottom of this common myth.
Dave Rogers is an elder at Ascot Life Church in the UK and serves on the Commission family of churches' leadership team.
Is a bigger church really better? Are small churches less valuable? There's a common myth in contemporary Christianity that says the best churches are the ones with the largest numbers of people.
In this episode, Dave Betts is joined by Dave Rogers to chat 'Big Church' and hopefully bring a little balance to the conversation.
Dave Rogers is one of the elders of Ascot Life Church in the UK and part of the leadership team of the Commission network of churches.
A common myth about the Bible is that it's full of contradictions. Is this true?
Dave Betts looks at the top five contradictions in the Bible according to the "Freedom From Religion Foundation" and argues that this apparent contradictions aren't really contradictions at all.
Have you ever wrestled with grief? As believers, how do we respond to the loss of loved ones?
In this episode, Steve Janz shares an inspirational testimony of stunning faith in the midst of profound grief. Not to be missed.
Steve Janz is the Executive Director of Millar College of the Bible's Sunnybrae Campus.
For show notes, head to https://simplefaithpodcast.com/
DEPRESSION is a major issue in our day. In this episode we're joined by Eliz Argent as we grapple with some important questions:
- What is Depression?
- Is it in the Bible?
- As believers, how do we respond if we're depressed?
- As believers, how do we help others if they are depressed?
Eliz brings her unique perspective on depression as the Emerge Project Lead at East to West, a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting children, young people and their families struggling with difficult and damaging issues in their lives. "Let's talk about depression" is out now on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
Shownotes are available at simplefaithpodcast.com/
It's a huge question. How could a loving, all-powerful God allow suffering? In the second of a two-part discussion, Dave and Sharaya do their best to grapple with this tough question.
For show notes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com.
It's a huge question. How could a loving, all-powerful God allow suffering? In part one of a two-part discussion, Dave and Sharaya do their best to grapple with this tough question.
The Ascension - that time when Jesus was floated into heaven on a cloud. It seems like an outrageous story, but for a number of reasons, it really matters.
In this shorter-than-usual episode, Dave Betts talks about why the Ascension is actually a really big deal.
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For shownotes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
If you're a regular listener of the Simple Faith Podcast and would like to support what we're doing, we'd love it if you would consider buying us a digital cup of coffee! Head to buymeacoffee.com/simplefaithpod/ for more information
What is Baptism? Why is it so important? Sprinkle or submerge? Why is there so much division over the baptism process? Dave Betts is joined by Simon Argent to try and tackle some of these big questions.
Simon Argent is one of the elders at Ascot Life Church in the UK and helps lead the Commission family of churches' READ online Bible course.
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For show notes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
If you're a regular listener of the Simple Faith Podcast and would like to support what we're doing, we'd love it if you would consider buying us a digital cup of coffee! Head to buymeacoffee.com/simplefaithpod/ for more information
Ok. So we're made "in the image of God", according to the Bible. That's pretty epic, but have you ever actually wondered what that means? This week Dave Betts is joined by Jorin Green to discuss this mysterious but incredibly important concept.
Jorin Green is currently the lead pastor at Erindale Alliance Church in Saskatoon, Canada, after 17 years as a professor at Millar College of the Bible in both the Pambrun and Sunnybrae campuses.
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For show notes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
If you're a regular listener of the Simple Faith Podcast and would like to support what we're doing, we'd love it if you would consider buying us a digital cup of coffee! Head to buymeacoffee.com/simplefaithpod/ for more information
Zacharias, Hybels, Lentz - the list goes on. As the global Church, it's hard to escape the heartbreaking reality that some of the world's most prominent Christian leaders have fallen in big ways.
In the first episode of season 2, Dave Betts is joined by Chris Williams, Youth Pastor at McKenzie Towne Church in Calgary, to discuss what happens when leaders fall, the dynamics of power, and how we move forward in a way that honours God.
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For shownotes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
If you're a regular listener of the Simple Faith Podcast and would like to support what we're doing, we'd love it if you would consider buying us a digital cup of coffee! Head to buymeacoffee.com/simplefaithpod/ for more information
In the final episode of 2020, Dave and Sharaya reflect on the Simple Faith Podcast's first year and share what's new for the show in 2021.
What is it like to be a missionary in the 21st Century?
This week, Dave and Sharaya are joined by their friends Liam and Dana, an inspiring young couple from Vernon, BC, Canada who are just weeks away from embarking on a journey as long-term missionaries. They discuss the fears and feelings, courage and calling that comes with the realities of taking such a bold step for Kingdom of God.
If you find today's episode helpful, or would like to contact Liam and Dana personally, feel free to contact us at simplefaithpodcast@gmail.com and we would love to connect you with them.
What is missions all about? What does the life of a missionary look like in the 21st century? Dave Betts is joined by Marty and Becky Frisk of Christar Canada to try and make sense of missions.
Dave is joined by Steve Janz, director of Millar College of the Bible's BC campus to talk about Bible School.
What is it? Why consider it? What if it doesn't fit with your plans?
Communion. Or the Lord's Supper. Or the Eucharist. Or Coming to the Table. Or Breaking Bread. Or an ordinance. Or a sacrament.
Communion goes by a bunch of names, and many of us have a rough understanding of what it is. Today, Dave and Sharaya discuss exactly what it is, and why it's so important for believers today.
What is tithing? Where does it fit into the church today? This week, Dave and Sharaya wrestle with this important, and at times, fairly contentious concept.
In this week's episode, Dave and Sharaya discuss how the church should respond to culture, by asking three questions:
- How do we define right and wrong?
- How do we balance Biblical truth with the culture we're in?
- What do we do if Biblical truth and culture don't align?
For shownotes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
In this week's episode, we're joined by a few guests as we share some stories of God answering prayer in our lives.
How do we live with outrageous faith? It's all down to our perspective of God, and our perspective of prayer.
For shownotes head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
Prayer is something we often take for granted and can often feel intimidating. In this episode, Dave and Sharaya discuss some helpful tips for growing in the crucial area of prayer.
For shownotes head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
Dave and Sharaya take a look at a crucial part of life as a follower of Jesus -- prayer. In this episode, we ask the question, "what is prayer?".
For shownotes head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Baptists, Prebytarians, Anglicans, Pentecostals, etc. Many of us have heard about these Christian groups -- or denominations -- but what's going on there?
Join us this week as Dave and Sharaya respond to the following questions:
- Why are there denominations in Christianity?
- What's the history of the major traditions?
- What makes each denomination different from the other?
- What is the difference between a denomination and a cult?
For shownotes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
This week we're demystifying apologetics. What does it mean and why is the study of apologetics so important?
For shownotes head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
This week Dave and Sharaya talk about a crucial biblical concept called Sanctification. What does it mean? Why is it so important? Find out in this episode.
For shownotes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
The Sovereignty of God is a concept that underpins much of our faith. But what on earth does it mean? Find out all about this churchy word in today's episode.
For show notes head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
Theology is a huge and complex rabbit hole. But what is it? Today, Dave and Sharaya try to demystify this crucial word and try to answer some of the following questions:
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What is theology?
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Why is it important?
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How can we learn more about theology?
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What are some things that we should avoid?
For show notes and book recommendations, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
Dave and Sharaya introduce a new series, "Churchy Words for Normal People". This week they walk us through a familiar but often misunderstood word: discipleship.
For show notes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
We live in a dating app culture. There's no getting around that. But how do Christians navigate that reality? This week, Dave and Sharaya discuss this great question from a Simple Faith listener.
For shownotes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
We're joined by Dave Rogers, one of the elders of Ascot Life Church in the UK, to discuss how the Church today can best reflect the church we see in the Bible.
For show notes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
This week Dave and Sharaya talk about the subtle pull of legalism in the church, the important distinction between rules and principles, and what the global Church could look like if we got that distinction right more often.
For shownotes head to simplefaithpodcast.com
Have you ever been to a church where it feels more like a concert than a community? If so, you're not alone. This week, Dave and Share talk about the rise of 'Performance Culture' in the church, and share their passion for a different, more authentic way.
For show notes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
In this week's episode, Dave and Sharaya share the conclusion to a three-part series on the church and LGBT.
Dave and Sharaya continue their discussion around the Church and LGBT, building on the foundations that were laid last week.
For show notes and, for this short series, full transcripts of the conversation, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
This week, Dave and Sharaya begin a discussion around the Church and LGBT, laying some important foundations for what will follow in the next two episodes.
For show notes and, for this short series, full transcripts of the conversation, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
With some tricky conversations ahead, we ask a vital question with the help of special guest Simon Argent: "How can I trust the Bible?" Is it reliable? Is it relevant? Is it moral? Find out in this week's episode.
In this week's episode, Dave and Sharaya discuss tattoos. Is it ok for Christians to have tattoos? Why or why not? Tune in to find out more.
Does the Bible talk about swearing or cursing? If so, what does it say? What about watching shows with bad language or listening to music with explicit lyrics? In this week's episode, Dave and Sharaya try to get to the bottom of these questions.
For more information and show notes, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/.
This week, Dave and Sharaya answer some listener questions in response to the last two episodes about identity and calling.
For more information, head to www.simplefaithpodcast.com/
Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook (@simplefaithpodcast)!
Have you ever wondered about your calling from God? What is a calling, anyway? What if you're not sure of what your calling is?
In this week's episode, Dave and Sharaya do their best to answer the question, "how do I find my calling from God?"
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Show notes and book recommendations available at simplefaithpodcast.com/
Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook (@simplefaithpodcast)!
Have you ever asked the question, "what is my identity?"
Do you ever worry about your identity or calling as a follower of Jesus? If so, you're not alone.
In the first of a short series, Dave and Sharaya look at the challenges of finding our identity in today's world, and what it means to find our identity in Jesus.
Let's face it: sometimes the Bible is hard to make sense of.
We're reading a big book that's thousands of years old and translated from its original language. Because of this, sometimes people come to some crazy conclusions about what the Bible does, or doesn't say. And this is dangerous!
How can we make sure that we're getting the Bible's intended meaning from a passage?
In this week's episode, Dave and Sharaya walk through a four-step process that they find really helpful when it comes to studying the Bible:
- Observation (What does it say?)
- Interpretation (What does it mean?)
- Correlation (How does it fit with the rest of the Bible?)
- Application (What are we supposed to do as a result?)
Oh, and they also do a terrible job with a super random movie quiz.
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For more extensive resources, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
Questions, comments, thoughts? Contact us through Instagram, Facebook, our website or just email simplefaithpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch.
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WANT TO BE ON THE PODCAST?
Next week we're starting a series on Identity and Calling.
Do you feel as though God has called you to something specific? Do you have a specific question or comment about calling? Record a voice memo and email it to us - it might make it onto the podcast in the next few weeks!
If you regularly go to church, you'll know that we often look at just a few verses. This is great, but sometimes it's hard to understand the broader context of the New Testament.
In the final episode of The Bible's Big Picture, Dave and Sharaya take a wide look at the New Testament through the lens of four key components:
- The message of the Gospel
- The context of the times
- The rise of the early Church
- How the New Testament is structured.
For more information (including handouts), head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
In the penultimate episode in "The Bible's Big Picture" series, Dave and Sharaya discuss the Old Testament Prophets and the nature of prophecy.
For extra resources and information, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
This week, Dave and Sharaya look at the role of Hebrew poetry in the Bible, blast through the Old Testament Poetry books and even have a poetry face-off.
For extra resources and information, head to simplefaithpodcast.com/
What are the Old Testament Historical books and what are they all about? Where do Neil Patrick Harris and Jeff Goldbloom fit in? Find out in this week’s episode.
For accompanying resources, just head to simplefaithpodcast.com
Questions, comments, ideas, thoughts? We'd love to hear from you. Just email simplefaithpodcast@gmail.com.
In this week's episode, Dave and Sharaya talk about how the Bible is a bit like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, discuss the possibility of pugs on the Ark and walk through the first five books of the Bible collectively known as the "Torah".
Questions, comments, ideas, thoughts? We'd love to hear from you. Just email simplefaithpodcast@gmail.com.
In this episode, Dave and Sharaya discuss the reality that sometimes the Bible is just hard to read. They talk about what the Bible is, how it's structured and why it's exciting to take the time to read it today.
Questions, comments, ideas, thoughts? We'd love to hear from you. Just email simplefaithpodcast@gmail.com.
In this shorter-than-usual episode, Dave and Sharaya discuss the vision behind The Simple Faith Podcast.
Questions, comments, ideas, thoughts? We'd love to hear from you. Just email simplefaithpodcast@gmail.com.