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Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling with Dr. Nijay Gupta

October 3, 2025

In this episode of the ⁠⁠Innovative Church Leaders⁠⁠ podcast, ⁠⁠Dr. Eric Bryant⁠⁠ interviews ⁠Dr. Nijay Gupta⁠, a New Testament scholar, author, and professor at ⁠Northern Seminary⁠. Nijay invites us to rediscover the wonder of the Bible and the radical nature of early Christianity. He explores how the early church's unity, generosity, and deep respect for human dignity can inspire modern Christians to live with greater intentionality, love, and purpose.Nijay is the author of the following books:⁠The Affections of Christ Jesus: Love at the Heart of Paul’s Theology⁠⁠Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling⁠⁠Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church⁠⁠15 New Testament Words of Life: A New Testament Theology for Real Life⁠⁠Paul and the Language of Faith⁠5 Key Takeaways:1. The Bible should be approached with wonder and imagination.2. Early Christians were radical in their faith and actions.3. Unity among Christians is lacking and needs to be addressed.4. The church must confront its failures and scandals honestly.5. Returning to the foundational teachings of Jesus is essential for renewal.📲 Follow Us:Stay connected and never miss an episode!• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@InnovativeChurchLeaders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ •Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Facebook: / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠InnovativeChurchLeaders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• TikTok: /⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠InnovativeChurchLeaders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Instagram: / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠InnovativeChurchLeaders ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🔔 Subscribe Share:If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with fellow leaders and friends to help pastors experience and bring renewal.Key Moments with Timestamps:00:00 Rediscovering the Wonder of the Bible03:17 The Radical Nature of Early Christianity06:00 Confronting Modern Complacency08:31 The Challenge of Unity and Wealth in the Church11:07 The Inherent Dignity of Every Individual13:52 Revisiting the Foundations of FaithHead over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠innovativechurchleaders.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠for additional resources and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes..#InnovativeChurchLeaders #innovation #KingdomofGod #EricBryant #ChurchLeadership #outreach #Discipleship #Evangelism #ChurchHealth #Pastors #jesus #christianity #faith #faithinaction #PostChristianPodcast #NijayGupta #BibleScholar #BibleStudy #EarlyChristianity #ApostlePaul #unity #EarlyChurch

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About Innovative Church Leaders Podcast

We exist to help church leaders experience and bring renewal. We help you bring Spirit-led innovation, reach new people, and make disciples who make disciples.

About Dr. Eric Bryant

Eric has been with Gateway Church in Austin since 2011. Currently he serves as the Campus Pastor for Gateway South Austin with Senior Pastor Carlos Ortiz, Jr.. Gateway’s founding pastor is John Burke and is known for their mottos: “no perfect people allowed” and “come as you are.”

From 1998-2010, Eric served as part of the leadership team with Erwin McManus at Mosaic in Los Angeles, a church known for its creativity and diversity. The four years prior to that he helped plant a church in Seattle, WA.

Eric is the author of Not Like Me: Loving, Serving, and Influencing Our Divided World and Fruitful: Becoming Who God Created You To Be. He was a contributing author with Rick Yamamoto for Uprising Experience: A Personal Guide for a Revolution of the Soul by Erwin McManus.

Eric has taught courses at Bethel Seminary and coaches pastors. He is also the founder of Innovative Church Leaders which helps pastors experience and bring renewal.

Eric lives with his wife, Deborah, in South Austin, TX near their young adult children – son Caleb, daughter Trevi, and son-in-law Adrien.


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512-574-8689