In this episode of Deep Roots, the podcast from Oak Hill College, Jonny Reid, Director of Engagement at Oak Hill College and church elder in Oxfordshire, speaks with Luke Foster, Tutor in Doctrine and Church History.

They explore liberation theology through the lens of Luke’s personal story—growing up in the Roman Catholic cultural context of the Philippines, serving the Anglican church in Chile, and researching the theology of Gustavo Gutierrez.

Luke explains that liberation theology is not simply a “social gospel,” but at its heart a theological response to inhumanity—asking how we speak of God as Father to people who haven’t even been told they are persons.

Jonny and Luke discuss how to engage other theological traditions wisely with grace, confidence, and discernment. The conversation highlights:

The resonant pastoral question at the heart of liberation theology

Concerns about continuity between nature and grace

The distinctive Christology of the Protestant Reformed tradition

Why modern theology still matters for churches today

A thoughtful, warm, and robust discussion on theology, gospel proclamation, culture, and pastoral care.

🎓 Want more from Luke Foster? Check out his book club in January on the Beatific Vision and the book To Gaze Upon God. https://www.oakhill.ac.uk/our-courses/short-courses/to-gaze-upon-god

📖 Explore courses and training at Oak Hill College. https://www.oakhill.ac.uk/our-courses

0:00 – Opening Moment & Podcast Introduction

1:30 – Luke’s Personal Story & Journey into Liberation Theology

6:00 – The Historical & Cultural Context of Liberation Theology

12:30 – Liberation Theology: Core Question Beyond the Stereotypes

18:30 – Gutierrez’s Answer & Catholic Theological Paradigm

25:00 – Theological Concerns & Instability of the Catholic Answer

31:00 – Resources in the Protestant Reformed Tradition

36:30 – Engaging Other Theological Traditions with Wisdom & Grace

41:00 – Final Reflections, Application to Ministry & Outro

#biblical #theology #pastoral #ministry #theological #traditions #liberationtheology #Reformation #Protestant #doctrine #incarnation #sacraments #gospel #culture #churchhistory #Bonhoeffer #C.S.Lewis #Calvin #romancatholicism #Gospelproclamation

Why should Christians—especially pastors and Bible teachers—bother with biblical languages today? In this episode of Deep Roots, Jonny Reid sits down with Rev. Dr. Andrew Cowan, Oak Hill College’s new tutor in Greek and New Testament, to explore the real value of learning Scripture in its original languages.

Andrew reflects on how Greek first came alive for him, how it has deepened his devotional life, and why slowing down in the text changes everything. Together, they address the most common misconceptions: Is it too time-consuming? Can you ever become proficient? Don’t modern translations and digital tools make languages unnecessary? What if you think you’re “not a linguist”?

They also unpack practical examples from Colossians, Revelation, and John 1 that show how Greek and Hebrew reveal nuance, structure, and richness that translations inevitably flatten.

Whether you're a ministry leader trying to keep your languages alive, a student considering theological training, or simply an interested believer who wants to understand Scripture more deeply, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a reminder that God’s Word is worth the effort.

Topics covered:

• Why Andrew first fell in love with Greek
• Spiritual impact of reading Scripture slowly
• Four misconceptions about biblical languages
• Whether modern translations make Greek/Hebrew unnecessary
• How not to misuse “a little Greek”
• Textual examples: Colossians 1, Revelation, John 1
• How to start learning Greek or Hebrew today
• How pastors can revive rusty language skills
• Tools: Daily Dose of Greek, Alpha with Angela, reading groups
• Why God’s Word is worth the effort

Resources mentioned:

• Exegetical Fallacies – D.A. Carson
• Daily Dose of Greek
• Alpha With Angela (YouTube)
• Greek/Hebrew reading groups & refresher retreats at Oak Hill College

00:00 – Intro: Why Study Biblical Languages Today?

02:00 – Andrew's Journey Into Greek & Hebrew

06:30 – How Languages Deepen the Way We Read Scripture

12:00 – The Four Big Misconceptions

18:30 – The Danger of Knowing Just a Little Greek

24:30 – Key Payoff Example: Colossians 1:28–29

31:30 – Greek, Grammar & Theology

40:30 – The Bigger Picture: Structure, Wordplay & Nuance

48:00 – How to Start Learning Greek or Hebrew

55:30 – Reviving Rusty Languages for Ministry

01:03:00 – Resources, Community & Learning Support

01:10:00 – Final Answer: Because the Word of God Is Worth It

01:14:00 – Oak Hill’s Training Pathways & Close

What does it mean for the local church to truly “send well”? In this episode of Oak Hill College’s Deep Roots podcast, host Chris Howles sits down with Bradley Bell and Larry McCrary from The Upstream Collective (USA) to explore what it looks like for churches to reclaim their biblical role in global mission.

Together, they unpack the vision behind the Upstream Collective’s motto — “The church sends, we help” — and discuss key insights from their book The Sending Church Applied, including their “Periodic Table of Sending.”

🕊️ Topics include:

• Why every believer is a “sent one”
• How churches can move from reactive to proactive mission sending
• The four stages of a healthy sending culture — Establishing, Developing, Engaging, and Multiplying
• The crucial role of care, commissioning, and re-entry for missionaries
• Practical steps for pastors and leaders to start cultivating a sending culture

📚 Resources mentioned:

• The Sending Church Applied by Bradley Bell, Larry McCrary, and colleagues
• Learn more about The Upstream Collective: https://www.theupstreamcollective.org
• Explore Oak Hill College’s Cross-Cultural Training: https://www.oakhill.ac.uk

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations helping you grow deep roots in theology, mission, and ministry.

🔗 Learn more about Oak Hill’s courses and resources: https://www.oakhill.ac.uk

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#DeepRootsPodcast #MinistryLife #OakHillCollege #mission #upstreamcollective