S2 E17. NT Wright: Acts, miracles and the rebirth of today’s church

The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God

Justin Brierley

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 592 Ratings

🗓️ 29 July 2025

⏱️ 75 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

NT Wright is Senior Research fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, the former Bishop of Durham and a prolific author. Justin talks to Tom about his most recent book 'The Challenge of Acts'. How does the rise of the early church under the the Roman Empire - often through miracles, signs and wonders - speak to our post-Christian west and the modern search for meaning? Their conversation includes a deep dive into Paul’s famous stand off with the philosophers of Athens in Acts 17. What does the famous sermon on Mars Hill have to say to a church seeking to speak to a world that is often hostile to Christian faith? 'Responding To The Rebirth' Conference: http://rebirthconference.net/ NT Wright - The Challenge of Acts https://spckpublishing.co.uk/the-challenge-of-acts More info, book & newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/ Support via Patreon for early access to new episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/justinbrierley/membership Support via Tax-deductible (USA) and get the same perks: https://defendersmedia.com/portfolio/justin-brierley/ Give a one-off gift via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/brierleyjustin Buy the book or get a signed copy: https://justinbrierley.com/the-surprising-rebirth-of-belief-in-god/ Got feedback? Share it with us by emailing: feedback@think.faith Ep 17 show notes: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/season-2-episode-17-ntw-acts Also, check out our show ‘Uncommon Ground’ for discussion and debates: ⁠https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/⁠ The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God is a production of Think Faith in partnership with Genexis, and support from The Jerusalem Trust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Well, we were not prepared for this. The venue is full. However, the mission is bigger than the room. You can still join us. Due to the incredible uptake, our responding to the Rebirth Conference will now be live streamed. Book your online pass now at rebirthconference.net. You may not be in the room, but you can still be part of the
0:22.5	response from anywhere in the world on Saturday the 22nd of November. On the live stream,
0:28.5	you'll get full access to all keynote sessions, panels and interviews with guests, including
0:33.6	John Lennox, Paul Kingsnorth, Elizabeth Oldfield and Al Gordon. You can take part in the
0:38.9	Q&A. You'll get to take home recordings of all of the sessions and get a front row seat to what God is doing.
0:45.7	A rebirth is happening. Let's respond together wherever we are. Book your live stream pass at
0:52.0	rebirthconference.net.
0:56.8	You've presumably talked to Neil Ferguson and his lovely wife.
1:00.8	Ion Hersielli.
1:01.8	I was invited to go to tea with them a few weeks ago.
1:04.9	The whole family were baptized.
1:06.8	And Neil said what had made him open his eyes was seeing his wife being, as he said, raised from the dead.
1:14.2	I mean, I've known that in my own family, in my own lifetime.
1:17.7	This stuff does happen.
1:19.4	Often people feel like, well, it isn't happening here, though.
1:21.9	Is there something about the Western mind and philosophy and the sort of disenchanted scientific age that we've
1:28.4	essentially embraced.
1:29.4	The very word supernatural gets it wrong, collapses into some form of Platonism.
1:34.3	The other world, the supernatural world is the real one.
1:37.2	But sooner or later, you're going to have to kiss goodbye to Plato if you want the full-on
1:41.8	biblical Christianity.
1:42.8	Probably time to talk about Acts 17.
	...

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