The Gospel According to the Gospels

With All Due Respect - Less aggro, more conversation. Is it even possible to have a deep discussion without it descending into chaos? Michael Jensen and Megan Powell du Toit think yes, and want to show the rest of us how to do it. There’s plenty of things they disagree on: free will, feminism, where you should send your kids to school and what type of church you should go to. But there are also plenty of other things that they have in common. They want to talk about all these things with conviction. But they also want the conversation to be constructive. Tune in to find out if that’s possible.
Episode Summary:
In the latest episode of "With All Due Respect," hosts Megan Powell du Toit and Michael Jensen dive into the complex and timely topic of immigration in Australia. This conversation couldn't be more pertinent as recent protests, the March for Australia, have stirred national debate about whether the country faces an immigration problem and how people, especially Christians, should respond. The discussion progresses to explore the nuanced aspects of immigration, including its impact on cultural identity, the rising presence of non-Christian faiths, and how statistics can often misrepresent the real picture, creating unwarranted fear and tension.
Joining the conversation is Jeri Jones Sparks, a Tamil Indian Australian with an active ministry presence, who shares her experiences and insights on living as an immigrant and working within the church to foster intercultural understanding. The episode further highlights the gripping SBS series "The Secret DNA of Us," which unveils the hidden ethnic makeup of Australian towns. This, coupled with stories of individual ancestry, shines a light on Australia's multifaceted identity. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of religion, culture, and social policy.
Key Takeaways:
Immigration Debate: Recent protests have highlighted the complexity surrounding immigration in Australia, often fueled by misinformation and political agendas.
Cultural and Religious Shifts: Australia's demographic changes bring both challenges and opportunities as the country navigates a more multicultural and religiously diverse population.
Christian Response: The necessity for Christians to redefine what it means to engage with 'the other,' drawing from biblical examples of how to treat foreigners among us.
Intercultural Church Dynamics: The importance of churches evolving towards interculturalism, incorporating various cultural perspectives to enhance community and belonging.
Understanding Heritage: Emotional and personal journeys uncovering one's ancestry, as showcased in the SBS series, can redefine individual and communal identity.
Notable Quotes:
"We're not as good at estimating numbers or proportions. It all comes through filters of bias." — Megan Powell du Toit
"I think there's going to be some kind of shift in our normal of engaging with cultural commentary." — Jeri Jones Sparks
"It's really messy. There's going to be conflict. But there's something gospel-hearted in how it shapes our gathering." — Jeri Jones Sparks
"The church has a lot to teach our society by modeling that kind of internationalism, that kind of welcome which is blind to race." — Michael Jensen
"When we know that it's God who appoints where and when all people should live, who are the people that God has put around us?" — Jeri Jones Sparks
Resources:
Satya Network
SBS TV Series: The Secret DNA of Us
ABC online article by Michael Jensen on Immigration
This season of With All Due Respect is sponsored by Morling College, a Christ-centred higher-education institution shaped by its Baptist heritage and broad evangelical vision. Morling is committed to rigorous theological study, deep spiritual formation, and learning how to engage faithfully and thoughtfully with difference. Study options include ministry and theology, counselling, chaplaincy, and education. Download a course guide to explore whether Morling is the right place for your next step.
Learn more about Morling College and register for the Online Open Night on February 5, 2026 at info.morling.edu.au/open-night. Discover how your faith and calling can come together at Morling.
Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

INTRODUCING: WIth All Due Respect
This podcast is part of the Hope Media production.
Less aggro, more conversation. Is it even possible to have a deep discussion without it descending into chaos? Michael Jensen and Megan Powell du Toit think yes, and want to show the rest of us how to do it. There’s plenty of things they disagree on: free will, feminism, where you should send your kids to school and what type of church you should go to. But there are also plenty of other things that they have in common. They want to talk about all these things with conviction. But they also want the conversation to be constructive. Tune in to find out if that’s possible.
This episode has been one of the highest listened to episodes in the WADR catalogue! With schoolies ongoing as well as the holiday season just over the horizon, we'd like to replay this ep and to stir some thought and discussion.
Discuss!? Glad you asked - head to our WADR group here on Facebook!

In this episode, the WADR team talk about how to have better sex. No, this is not Megan and Michael's opportunity to present the evangelical version of the karma sutra. Rather, they want to talk about the ways Christianity has got sex right - or a lot of the time wrong - and what can be done better for everyone's sake.
First up, Megan and Michael invite on to the show the co-author of the influential Christian book The Great Sex Rescue, Sheila Wray Gregoire. Sheila shares what she and her co-authors discovered when they talked to 22,000 Christian women.
Then the WADR duo talk about the Australian #metoo moment and what they think about consent education.
Finally, we finish the show with the film Give Me Sex Jesus, a title that sells itself. And consider this your warning. This episode is talking about sex, so it is definitely for mature audiences.

LINKS

Follow this link to check out Sheila's book, The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You've Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended, by Sheila Wray Gregoire, psychology graduate Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach and epidemiologist and statistician Joanna Sawatsky.

You can watch Give Me Sex Jesus for free on Vimeo - it's a Staff Pick!
Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having dived deep into each of the four Gospels in the New Testament, our final episode considers what The Gospel of Jesus Christ means for sharing it. Prominent and passionate evangelist Sam Chan discusses the ways we can summarise The Gospel. He also raises how Jesus adapted the way he delivered the good news to those he was engaging with so, perhaps we should too, then.
Meet our Guest
Sam Chan is a medical doctor and trainer at EvQ School of Evangelism. Sam also is public speaker for City Bible Forum and Third Space, as well as award-winning author of books such as How to Talk About Jesus (Without Being THAT Guy) and Evangelism in a Skeptical World
Sam Chan – City Bible Forum
Bible references during this episode
17:30 John 3 – Jesus talks with Jewish leader Nicodemus.
17:50 Ezekiel 36:22-38 – God will give you a new heart and new spirit.
17:58 John 4 – Jesus talks with Samarian woman at a well.
18:10 John 9 – Jesus heals a man born blind.
19:20 Matthew 10 – Jesus sends out his 12 disciples to those who should know God’s kingdom.
· 19:45 Mark 5:1-20 – Jesus performs an exorcism in the region of the Gerasenes.
· 20:50 Acts 2 – Peter's sermon about the Jewish Messiah and “repent and be baptised”.
· 21:20 Acts 14 – Disciples tell non-Jewish people that they do not worship the true God.
· 22:00 Acts 16 – Evangelising three different types of people.
· 25:10 Luke 1:1-4 – Luke begins by defining his intent for writing and sharing this gospel.
· 25:20 Mark 1 - The book of Isaiah quoted and Jesus declares: “Kingdom of God has come near.”
· 25:48 John 1 - “The Word has become flesh.”
· 30:35 Luke 15:11-32 – The Parable of the Prodigal Son.
SECTION 2
· 00:25 Luke 18: 15-17 – The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
· 9:05 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 – We are “jars of clay” filled with God’s treasure.
· 12:20 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - “... You know how we lived among you for your benefit.”
· 15:20 Mark 3:1-6 – Jesus’ compassion and anger.
· 15:40 John 11 - Jesus wept because Lazarus had died.
· 15:45 Matthew 19 - Jesus loved the “rich young ruler”.

Helpful resources mentioned by Sam:
Tim Keller
Two Ways To Live
Mark Sayers – This Cultural Life
Glen Scrivener and Mark Greene about Billy Graham crusades and evangelism
Sam Chan’s books – How To Talk About Jesus (Without Being That Guy), and Evangelism in a Skeptical World
Nathan Campbell’s blog – St Eutychus

Hosted by Ben McEachen from Hope 1032 in Sydney, Australia
Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.
Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is The Gospel, according to the Gospel of Luke? Dr John Griffiths (Alphacrucis College) John wants us to see that the third gospel puts the spotlight upon what salvation is. Far from only having spiritual effects, salvation in Christ impacts every realm of our lives, from the physical to social, economic to political. Come with John as he takes us through the holistic gospel in Luke's Gospel.
Meet our Guest
Dr John Griffiths is Lecturer in Biblical Studies, as well as Diploma of Leadership and Ministry Program Director at Alphacrucis College, Sydney, Australia.
Dr John Griffiths – Alphacrucis College
Bible references during this episode
5:06 Luke 19:10 – Key verse for understanding the gospel according to Luke’s gospel.
6:20 Isaiah 61 – “…The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”
10:45 Luke 9:37-45 – Jesus casts out a demon from a boy and gives him back to his father.
11:20 Luke 7:11-17 – A funeral procession, a son resurrected and returned to his mother.
13:45 Luke 6 – The “Sermon on the Plain” and being a citizen of God’s kingdom.
15:40 Luke 4:14-30 – Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 and declares “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
16:25 Luke 12:13-21 – The parable of the Rich Fool.
16:30 Luke 16 – The parables of the Shrewd Manager, and the Rich Man and Lazarus.
17:55 Deuteronomy 15 – The Jubilee Year.
20:30 Matthew 5 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
21:30 Acts 2 – Community of believers sharing possessions.
21:50 Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit.
22:55 Joshua 7 – Achan holds something back from God.
24:20 Luke 1 and 2 – Songs of Mary and Zechariah.
25:50 Matthew 20:28 – The Son of Man gave his life as “a ransom for many”.
27:30 Luke 24:13-35 – The Road to Emmaus.
27:40 Acts 1 – “Is this the time you will restore the kingdom of Israel?”
30:00 Exodus 12 – A “mixed multitude” joined God’s people.
34:00 Acts 2 – 12 Tribes, God’s Spirit and gathering the “exiles”.
37:40 John 14-16 – Jesus shares about The Holy Spirit.
38:00 Galatians 5 – The Fruit of the Spirit.
39:00 Acts 10 – Cornelius and the Holy Spirit.
39:50 Acts 8 – Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch.
Hosted by Ben McEachen from Hope 1032 in Sydney, Australia
Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.
Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Among everything Deb opens up from John’s gospel, Deb has a terrific summary of the purpose of Jesus descending to earth - to drag us back up to where we truly belong, with God.
Meet our Guest
Dr Deb Snoddy is a Lecturer in Biblical Studies, teaching Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, at Catholic Institute of Sydney. Deb is a founding member of the SCD Centre for Gospels Research.
Dr Debra Snoddy – Catholic Institute of Sydney
Bible references during this episode
8:00 – John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and hte Word was with God, and the Word was God."
8:40 – John 1:18 "... The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father's side – he has revealed him."
10:44 – John 20:30-31 "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
11:50 – John 3:1-21 Jesus and Nicodemus and being "born again".
12:10 – John 2:1-12 Jesus' mother Mary responds to his power and authority.
13:25 – John 6:16-21 Jesus walks on water. (cf Matthew 14:22-33)
15:20 – John 18-20 "The Passion Narrative" of Jesus' death and resurrection.
16:00 – Genesis, Book of Revelation and "Garden of Eden" imagery.
17:00 – John 19:25-27 Mary and the beloved disciple, at the foot of the cross.
17:50 – John 1:12 "... To all who did receive him, he gave them the right be children of God..."
19:05 – John 14-17 The glory of God in Jesus.
19:45 – John 11:1-54 The resurrection of Lazarus "leads to" the death of Jesus.
22:50 – Luke 24:13-35 Disciples encounter Jesus on road to Emmaus.
25:35 – John 2:13-25 Jesus "cleanses" his Father's House/
25:50 – Psalm 69:9 "... zeal for your house has consumed me"
29:55 – John 6:35 "I am the bread of life."
30:00 – John 8:12 "I am the light of the world."
30:10 – John 10:7 "... I am the gate for the sheep".
31:20 – John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd."
31:35 – John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life."
34:40 – John 11:35 Jesus wept.
36:30 – John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life."
37:00 – John 15:1 "I am the true vine..."
43:00 – John 15:12-14 "... You are my friends if you do what I command you."
46:20 – John 6:35 "I am the bread of life."
54:55 – John 12:20-36 The good news also for the Gentiles.
55:00 – John 4:1-21 Jesus and Nicodemus
Hosted by Ben McEachen from Hope 1032 in Sydney, Australia
Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.
Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.