Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the beginning of the book of Exodus, chapters 1 to 22.There is a lot of important story to process here, beginning with the loss of good relationship between Egypt and the family of Israel, but with changes coming thanks to what God does through Moses.It’s the foundational story of Israel as a distinctive people, ultimately a nation, but it also seems to be a universally relevant story about the relationship between good and evil, life with potential and the forces that block its fulfilment.These aren’t just abstract ideas or the reasons for international conflicts, but real battles we face in and between ourselves personally.Is this also a story about how God is involved with more aspects of our life than we might sometimes credit? Ancient people thought of gods as part of what they couldn’t otherwise explain in the world, but what if this God of Israel wanted to be the foundation for the whole of life?The next part of our boxset will look at the rest of Exodus, chapters 23 to 40. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

In this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the end of the book of Genesis, chapters 45 to 50, and Psalms 1 to 28.The story of Joseph ends in a good place relationally, with reconciliation, forgiveness and restoration - it’s a picture of hope. But it’s also clear that there is more to come, both for Israel’s family and the rest of the world.Psalms contrast with the Bible’s stories as they seem to be personal expressions across a range of emotions and situations, but they are also inspired by God, connected with his heart and concerns, and relevant to how we process the biggest issues in life together as communities.Both of these parts of the Bible make us think about relationships - could God be grabbing our attention about this?The next part of our boxset will look at life for God’s people after some important relationships were forgotten, and Israel’s family story takes a new direction in Exodus chapters 1 to 22. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

We’re on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the middle of the book of Genesis, chapters 25 to 44.This could be well described as a family story and, as with many families, it can get a bit messy. Far from being a set of neat moral tales, it’s an account of people causing and dealing with difficulties. They are not perfect people, but they are loved and valued. After much gets broken by people’s weaknesses, what starts to get shown is how people can find redemption and restoration through relationship, which is the foundation of the Bible’s big story.The next bit of our boxset will be Genesis chapters 45 to 50 and Psalms 1 to 28. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

We’re on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the very beginning, Genesis chapters 1 to 24.What is described at the start of the Bible has been the subject of much discussion over centuries. People take different views on interpreting it, but most agree that it is an awesome statement of the wonder of life and the way order can emerge from raw materials. Bern and Owen look at the view of Bible scholar John H. Walton, author of The Lost World of Genesis One, that ancient people would have likened the Bible’s first story to the construction of a temple, a place where heaven meets earth. Remarkably, the image of God that is central to a temple is described as being in each of us.What does this mean for our view of human potential? How does it lay the foundation for the rest of the Bible’s story about people’s instincts and actions which conflict with our God-given value and purpose? And does the Bible describe the ultimate remedy for this as religious order for a few people, or is religion only pointing the way towards something better for everyone?The next part of our boxset will be Genesis chapters 25 to 44. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

We’re on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about Acts of the Apostles, chapters 10 to 28.Peter gets a mind-blowing revelation from God which ends up changing how believers in Jesus saw themselves, other people, and the whole purpose of religion and its laws. This story is told by Luke who, we learn, joined in the missionary journeys to spread news of God at work in the world, and would have shared the perspective of people having their minds changed as their relationships and practical experience of a Spirit-filled people grew. Bern and Owen reflect on Luke’s purposes for writing, and how we might be intended to get ready for having our minds changed as we see and do things differently too.The next bit of our boxset will be Genesis chapters 1 to 24. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

We’re on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the Luke’s Gospel chapters 15 to 24 and its sequel, Acts of the Apostles, chapters 1 to 9.Luke’s story about Jesus and the surprisingly inclusive Kingdom of God continues with demonstrations of the power God wants people to have, to overcome suffering, injustice, and even death. This power reconnects people with God in ways which can cause tremendous thankfulness and praise in those experiencing it.Bern and Owen reflect on how this is moving them to see and do things differently, and look forward to the next episodes in the boxset: Acts of the Apostles chapters 10 to 28. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

We've started on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about Luke's gospel chapters 1 to 14.Luke is telling a story which is rooted in Jewish beliefs and customs, but turns out to be inclusive for everyone. In a difficult time, Jesus seems to challenge every authority and offer the love, power and hope that is desperately needed and sought for changing the world. But the coming of God's kingdom, as Jesus demonstrates it, isn't about some powerful people having their way as much as it's about God changing the minds of everyone was comfortable or thought they were righteous.Bern and Owen reflect on how this is shaping their lives today, and look forward to the next episodes in the boxset: Luke chapters 15 to 24 and Acts of the Apostles chapters 1 to 9. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

In the first week of our boxset binge, we're introduced to Jesus by Luke, telling his story for the benefit of people who were interested in the God of the Jews, but were not themselves Jewish.Our suggestion is to listen to the first 14 chapters of Luke's Gospel this week - they'll take about an hour and forty minutes (at 1x speed) from our recommended NIV UK version, read by David Suchet, available in many Bible apps or directly at https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/suchet/nivuk/Luke.1We're sharing a few of our thoughts and expectations here, and next week, we'll share how these passages made us think, feel and move. Get in touch if you'd like to tell us how they've struck you too!

The Bible is an amazing collection of literature which some say can help us hear God. It has a big story, told through lots of smaller stories. It's full of engaging characters who are each part of something much bigger than themselves.In this podcast, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch discuss how listening through the whole Bible, and noticing how it makes us think, feel and move, can connect us with something bigger than ourselves too, and included in the epic work that God has been doing through history.Top tips for getting through the Bible in a year include listening to a good version - we recommend the NIV UK audio Bible narrated by David Suchet, available in many Bible apps and linked from our website, severnvineyard.org/bible, where you can also find and follow the whole boxset binge plan for the year.

Why approach the Bible like a boxset binge?Dan Green and Bern Leckie discuss the benefits of listening to the Bible, doing more chatting and sharing than studying, and getting on with life while boxset bingeing instead of only having sacred quiet times.It's an approach we're going to take as we binge the whole Bible throughout 2024, with weekly episodes to come.Find out more and join in at severnvineyard.org/bible