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Artwork for Context Matters

Context Matters

Dr. Cyndi Parker
Christianity
Old Testament
Discipleship
Theology
Spiritual Formation
Glory Of God
The Lord's Prayer
Isaiah 53
Deuteronomy
Noah's Curse
Imagination
Art
Early Church
Judaism
Music
Prayer
Food Systems
Mary Magdalene
Orthodox Christianity
Social Justice

This podcast is for people who are curious about the ancient context that influenced the final shape of the Bible…AND ALSO…how our modern context influences the way we understand the Bible and God and all things spiritual.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes224Founded6 years ago
Categories
ChristianityEducationReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Context Matters

Latest Episodes

How does prayer fit into the formation and healing of our imagination? As we continue our conversation with Dr. Justin Bailey, he addresses prayer as reorienting our attention, priorities, and requests within Jesus' story. We also contrast cheap, cli... more

In our recent conversations about spiritual formation, the use of the imagination has come up several times. Why is the imagination so significant in spiritual formation? Don't we simply need to learn more data about the Bible? Out of early misgiving... more

This is a re-edited broadcast of a conversation with Dr. Michael Rhodes from 2024. Is it possible that Western Christianity and modern American life is shaping us to become people who are NOT good at doing justice, and loving mercy, and showing kindn... more

This is a re-edit conversation from 2024 with Dr. Lanta Davis. Her book Becoming by Beholding is a wonderful conversation partner with some of the recent podcast episodes.

Her book will prompt you to think about the connection between art, imaginati... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host

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Recent Guests

Justin Bailey
Dean of Chapel and Professor of Theology at Dort University
Dort University
Episode: Healing our Imagination
Michael Rhodes
Professor of Old Testament at Carey Baptist College
Carey Baptist College, Auckland, New Zealand
Episode: No Discipleship without Justice
Dr. Lanta Davis
Author and professor of humanities and literature at Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University
Episode: The Soul as Wax
David Bailey
Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Arrabon
Arrabon
Episode: Public Theology with David Bailey
Dr. Ingrid Faro
Professor of Old Testament at Northern Seminary, author of 'Redeeming Eden'
Northern Seminary
Episode: Women in the Salvation Story
Brad Gray
Co-author of the book "Bringing Heaven Here" and involved in the associated documentary
Walking the Text
Episode: Bringing Heaven Here
Brad Nelson
Co-author of the book "Bringing Heaven Here" and involved in the associated documentary
Walking the Text
Episode: Bringing Heaven Here
Jack Beck
An author, speaker, and professor who combines a love for wild places with biblical expertise.
Episode: Nazareth's Role in Christmas
Dr. Nicholas Schaser
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Macalester College, specializes in the intersection between Jewish thought and the New Testament.
Macalester College
Episode: Jesus, Hillel, and Shammai

Host

Cyndi Parker
Host of Context Matters; engages scholars and authors in thoughtful conversations about biblical context, imagination, and spiritual formation.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 131 ratings
  • This is how to have a good conversation

    Cyndi Parker models how to engage in curious and empathetic conversations that open our minds to new ideas and our eyes to Biblical details hiding in plain sight. I wish the fascinating work being done by all these scholars would trickle down into our church communities, so I’m constantly telling people about something I learned from this podcast. I tell everyone about her Biblical geography class too. I’m encouraged to see more of these kinds of podcasts out there, but this one is really on... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    amyamyvaldez
    United States2 years ago
  • 2023 year end review

    Listening to the end of your recent podcast paid off in the most serendipitous way. A dear friend and I were speaking about our desire for peace and love for all caught in the current crisis. Much stronger words are warranted, but I choose these today.

    The words of Fr David Neuhaus were extremely helpful that as a Christian and an American there is a third option. Living as Jesus, in the TENSION it does feel as if it ripping me apart at times. Yet, I want to be honest about the atrocities bein... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pastor Felicia
    United States2 years ago
  • Listen If You Want to Be Stretched and Enjoy It!

    Dr. Cyndi Parker and her guests will stretch your thinking and you will enjoy being stretched! There aren’t many podcasts out there that are both enjoyable and transformative! Give it a try!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    stevenreallife
    United States4 years ago
  • Pearls in here!

    This podcast is so enlightening on so many levels! Each episode is packed with pearls of wisdom. Cindi is such a well informed and delightful host. I can’t get enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ande57
    Canada4 years ago
  • Simply Fantastic

    Thoughtful, unique, and essential … Dr. Parker curates simply fantastic conversations with fascinating guests, providing insights into rarely considered aspects of biblical conversations. You won’t want to miss an episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pastor Danielle
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's empathetic interviewing style and ability to draw out nuanced insights from scholars.
Guests are described as fascinating and well-prepared, contributing to high-quality conversations.
Episodes are seen as transformative, offering thoughtful, non-polarizing discussions of biblical themes.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Healing our Imagination
Q: What is the role of imagination in prayer according to your discussion?
Imagination is not separate from prayer; all prayer is imaginative insofar as we direct ourselves toward a God we cannot see, and the practice helps us inhabit possibilities, reframe our hopes, and engage heart and mind together.
No Discipleship without Justice
Q: Why are those two aspects—personal virtue and communal/structural justice—both necessary for a community to become a true Disciples of Justice?
He argues that Deuteronomy and the Torah emphasize that justice requires inner heart change and outward action, and that biblical justice includes personal righteousness and resisting unjust power structures, not simply private virtue or public policy alone.
No Discipleship without Justice
Q: And so can you just talk about that a little bit? Where does the story of justice start in Scripture to anchor our formation?
Rhodes explains that justice begins with being made in God's image, which is both identity and vocation to mediate God's presence, and that this expands from individual virtue to communal and structural justice throughout Scripture.
The Winding Road
Q: Could you just describe what the Winding Road is as a resource?
The Winding Road is a curriculum exploring fear, grief, anger, shame during Lent through meditations on Psalms, designed for community engagement, offering guided reflections and breathing prayers.
Leading Sages of Jewish Thought
Q: Why were you partnering Matthew with the rabbis in your dissertation?
Because Matthew contains robust Jewish content, connecting deeply with rabbinic literature and showing how it aligns with traditional Jewish thought.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Context Matters

What is Context Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful show that centers on biblical context, ancient interpretations, and how contemporary realities shape faith. Episodes frequently feature theologians, biblical scholars, and ministry leaders who explore imagination, justice, and the role of women in Scripture, along with practical applications for personal formation and community life. Notable strengths include a strong emphasis on relational learning, cross-disciplinary insights, and a willingness to engage diverse perspectives within Christian tradition, making it appealing for listeners who want depth, nuance, and actionable ideas for church and study groups.

Where can I find podcast stats for Context Matters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Context Matters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Context Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Context Matters get?

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What are the audience demographics for Context Matters?

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How many subscribers and views does Context Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Context Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Context Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Context Matters:

1. BibleProject
2. Ask NT Wright Anything
3. The Bible For Normal People
4. The Russell Moore Show
5. Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer

How many episodes of Context Matters are there?

Context Matters launched 6 years ago and published 224 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Context Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Context Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Context Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Context Matters?

Recent guests on Context Matters include:

1. Justin Bailey
2. Michael Rhodes
3. Dr. Lanta Davis
4. David Bailey
5. Dr. Ingrid Faro
6. Brad Gray
7. Brad Nelson
8. Jack Beck

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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