Outside of Sunday

In this Insights episode of Outside of Sunday, Laura and I chat through a couple of topics that have been getting a lot of people talking lately: viral conversions and what it really means to keep Christ above culture.
We start by discussing Alex Reads Tarot's recent testimony and what the Bible shows us about genuine repentance. How should we respond when someone publicly professes faith? What do we do when people later walk away? Looking at examples from Scripture, we unpack why discernment matters and how we can celebrate what God is doing without jumping to conclusions either way.
We also spend some time reflecting on part one of our conversation with Henare Whaanga, talking about why, as Christians, we should always see the world through the lens of Christ. From culture and identity to history and tradition, we explore why God's Word has to be our foundation. We even touch on the fascinating role missionaries played in preserving the written Māori language.
If you've ever wrestled with these kinds of questions or wondered how to navigate them biblically, we hope this conversation encourages you to keep coming back to Christ and His Word above everything else.

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.
0:00 – Coming up
0:40 – Welcome
3:09 – Alex Reads Tarot's testimony and genuine repentance
11:49 – What do we do with 'fake' conversions?
15:09 – What Acts teaches us about genuine conversion
16:30 – Fellowship follows faith and responding when someone walks away
19:50 – Reflections on Henare Whaanga (Part 1)
24:49 – Wrestling with our emotions in difficult conversations
25:14 – Why Christ must always be above culture
31:59 – The missionaries' role in preserving the written Māori language
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.

Last year, I had the privilege of interviewing Henare at the Thinking Matters Conference. Clips from that conversation reached hundreds of thousands online, sparking passionate discussion from people on all sides. Recently, Henare joined me again to unpack some of the biggest questions surrounding Māori identity, Christianity, and colonisation - and to respond to some of the criticism.

In the first of this two-part conversation with Henare, we revisit some of the biggest objections raised by viewers. Together we explore whether Māori were forced to speak English, whether Christianity was simply a strategic tool of colonisation, and whether whakapapa and Christian faith can coexist.

This conversation goes beyond history. We talk about the emotions that surface when reflecting on past injustices, what healing can look like, and why pursuing truth matters - even when the conversation is difficult.

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.

0:00 – Coming up
1:23 – Watch Henare's previous episode
1:48 – How Henare has handled the viral response
2:31 – Catching up with Henare
5:04 – Objection: Māori were forced to speak English
22:26 – Objection: Religion was a strategic tactic partnered with colonisation
27:25 – Objection: Christianity cannot exist alongside Te Ao Māori because of whakapapa
32:01 – What does it mean to "Reindigenise"?
35:43 – Processing the emotions surrounding past injustices
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.

In this special 200th episode of Outside of Sunday, Laura and I sit down for another Insights conversation as we reflect on some of the themes that surfaced in part two of Sonia Barrish's testimony and unpack a topic that keeps coming up again and again: our tendency to rely on ourselves instead of God.
We begin by talking about the recent backlash surrounding Israel Folau and the double standard Christians often face in today's culture. From there, we discuss why the more our world rejects Christianity, the more it risks losing some of the very things that have brought hope, dignity and goodness to society.
We also revisit Sonia's story and have an honest conversation about sleep deprivation, mental health struggles, and Laura's own experience with insomnia. We talk about the reality that Christians are not immune to seasons of exhaustion, anxiety, or suffering, and why biblical lament is such an important practice during those times.
Throughout this episode, we keep coming back to one simple truth: there is no self-sufficiency in Christianity. In fact, nothing in all of creation was designed to sustain itself. The only way we can be spiritually sustained is by remaining close to God.
If you've been trying to carry everything in your own strength, my hope is that this episode reminds you that you were never meant to do life alone.
Thank you for being part of these first 200 episodes. Whether you've been listening from the beginning or have only just joined us, we're so grateful you're here. 🤍
Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.
Click here to check out the article Laura mentions in the episode. 
0:00 - Coming up
0:40 - Welcome to the 200th episode
5:37 - What's going on? Israel Folau's fresh cancellation
7:40 - The double standard for Christians
10:12 - The more the world rejects Christianity, the more the world loses the best things that ever happened to it
18:54 - Recap on part two of our chat with Sonia
19:27 - Wrestling over posting a reel about the episode
22:34 - Our natural tendency to rely on ourselves rather than God
24:46 - How serious is sleep deprivation?
25:47 - Laura's struggle with insomnia
30:12 - Christians can have mental health struggles
31:06 - About lamenting
34:26 - There is no self-sufficiency in Christianity
36:51 - Nothing in all creation is self-sufficient
38:35 - The only way to be spiritually sustained is with God
40:13 - Laura's advice if you are struggling
42:06 - The sacrifice of a mother
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.

In this episode of Outside of Sunday, Sonia continues her testimony by sharing the frightening reality of severe sleep deprivation and the mental and physical toll it took on her life. As her health rapidly declined, she experienced terrifying blackouts, medical intervention, and a season of being completely stripped back.
Sonia opens up about what recovery looked like, how her family navigated this difficult time, and why she chose not to share her struggles publicly while she was in the thick of it. Through her suffering, she discovered a deeper dependence on God and now reflects on one powerful lesson: sometimes we need to be broken in order for God to rebuild us stronger than before.
If you're currently struggling with your mental health, feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or at breaking point, Sonia's story is a gentle reminder that you are not alone, and that God is present even in the darkest seasons.
Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.
0:00 - Coming up
0:39 - Lack of sleep affecting Sonia
1:18 - Concerned friends
1:38 - Sleep deprivation leads to terrifying blackouts
4:12 - The call to psych emergency
6:10 - Sleep medication not working
7:13 - What was happening at home without Sonia?
7:56 - How was Sonia processing everything with the Lord?
12:26 - Not sharing about her sleep issues on social media
14:46 - “I needed to be broken to be put back together better.”
16:40 - What did recovery look like?
20:56 - Practical things that helped Sonia's recovery
26:17 - Getting closer to God through her suffering
28:14 - Sonia's advice to anyone listening who is struggling with mental health issues
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.

In this Insights episode of Outside of Sunday, Christa and Laura reflect on the recent conversations surrounding women in ministry and explore how Christians can hold differing convictions on secondary issues while still preserving unity and loving one another well. They discuss the importance of humility, the example of the early church, and why our love for fellow believers should be one of the clearest markers of our faith. They also share resources for those wanting to study the topic of women in ministry more deeply, reflect on Elisabeth Elliot's writings, revisit themes from Sonia's recent testimony, and discuss how creation points us to the Creator. Above all, this episode is a reminder that we are a family in Christ, called to grow together in truth, grace, and community.

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.

0:00 - Coming up
0:33 - Welcome
1:31 - The women in ministry conversation has been heating up
4:34 - We have to be careful - this can very quickly cause separation
4:53 - It would be wonderful if we all agreed on every point of doctrine (Philippians 2:1-3)
7:04 - What merit is there in loving those who agree with you on every point of doctrine?
7:49 - We are supposed to be a family, called to love one another
10:44 - The world is supposed to know that we are His disciples by our love for one another
11:06 - Looking at the writings of Tertullian
12:19 - If we were in Rome when Christians were being slaughtered for their faith, we wouldn't be arguing over secondary issues
14:16 - We may not sit down with everyone, but we can sit down with fellow New Zealand Christians
15:26 - These are important issues, but we are not enemies
16:10 - Video recommendations if you want to explore women in ministry further
18:47 - Reflections from Elisabeth Elliot (Are we Eve or Mary?)
21:27 - Remembering that there are men who do not qualify to be pastors too
24:19 - Reflections on part one of Sonia's episode
27:18 - Feeling closer to God in creation
31:57 - Design points to a Designer, creation points to the Creator
35:30 - We need to grow in community
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.