God Questions

Pastor Ian Thompson Bootle Protestant Free Church
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God Questions is a short, accessible podcast designed to help young people explore the big questions they have about God, faith, and the world around them. Each episode is under 15 minutes, offering clear, thoughtful, Bible‑rooted answers that are easy to follow whether you’re on the go, taking a break, or simply curious. The aim of the podcast is simple: to give honest, meaningful responses to the kinds of questions young people often think about but rarely get the chance to discuss. Each episode looks at what the Bible teaches, how Christians have understood these ideas throughout history, and why these truths still matter today. Our goals are: to make conversations about faith clear and understandableto help young people think deeply about God and lifeto encourage curiosity, reflection, and real‑world applicationto create a safe, welcoming space for honest or difficult questionsGod Questions is for anyone who wants to grow in understanding, explore their beliefs, or learn more about what Christians believe and why it matters.

  1. Jul 22

    Root, Fruit, and the Living Faith: Understanding James, Charity, and Evangelism

    Pastor Ian Thompson explores one of the most challenging questions in Christian life: How do faith and works actually relate?  Beginning with a striking real‑world example — two identical £50,000 donations with completely different spiritual motives — this episode unpacks James’ teaching on living faith using the powerful biblical metaphor of root and fruit. Across this deep dive, Pastor Ian examines: why outward charity doesn’t automatically prove genuine faithhow evangelism functions as a uniquely Christian “fruit of truth”why works of mercy, patience, integrity, and compassion are equal “fruits of love”how Jesus’ words “the poor you will always have with you” have been misusedthe Salvation Army’s radical 19th‑century model of soup, soap, and salvationhow believers can avoid burnout by drawing strength from the unseen rootwhy seasons of spiritual “winter” may still indicate a living, growing faithThis episode challenges listeners to look beyond the spreadsheet of their actions and examine the internal mechanism driving their daily choices. It ends with a deeply pastoral reflection on winter trees, unseen growth, and the difference between a faith that is dead and a faith that is quietly deepening its roots. Perfect for new believers, mature Christians, and anyone wrestling with the tension between faith, works, charity, and evangelism.

  2. Jul 15

    “Did Henry VIII Really Cause the English Reformation? The Truth Behind England’s Break With Rome”

    Did Henry VIII really cause the English Reformation?  Many people think England’s break with Rome began with a king’s desire for an annulment — but the real story stretches back nearly 150 years earlier. In this episode of God Questions, Pastor Ian Thompson explores how the English Reformation truly began: with John Wycliffe’s English Bible, the courage of the Lollards, William Tyndale’s martyrdom, and Thomas Cranmer’s shaping of a Protestant church grounded in Scripture. We trace the movement from Wycliffe to Elizabeth I, uncovering how ordinary believers, not royal politics, sparked the transformation of English Christianity. This episode reveals how God used scholars, preachers, and martyrs to open the Scriptures to the people — long before Henry VIII ever broke with Rome. Key themes: Why Wycliffe’s English Bible changed everythingThe Lollards and early persecutionTyndale’s New Testament and his final prayerHenry VIII’s political break vs. spiritual reformCranmer, the Prayer Book, and Protestant identityMary I’s counter‑reformationElizabeth I’s lasting settlementHow God works through Scripture, suffering, and ordinary believersA clear, accessible journey through one of the most misunderstood periods in church history — and a reminder that God’s Word always finds a way. Editor Pastor Ian Thompson

  3. Jul 8

    What Should Christian Remembrance Look Like?

    We ask a challenging and timely question: What should Christian remembrance look like?   Remembrance is often shaped by national identity, political tradition, or inherited narratives. But Christian remembrance must be shaped by something deeper—by truth, compassion, and the gospel. In this episode, we explore: Why Christians honour the fallen honestly, not selectivelyHow soldiers on all sides believed they were defending their homes, families, and way of lifeWhy motives in war are complex and rarely fit neat categoriesThe difference between defensive and aggressive war, and why history is not always clearHow Christians can remember courage without glorifying violenceWhy every fallen soldier—friend or foe—was made in the image of GodHow remembrance points us toward the hope of Christ’s Kingdom, where war is learned no moreThis is a gentle, thoughtful, and deeply pastoral reflection suitable for Remembrance season or any time we consider the cost of conflict. 🕊️ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”  🕊️ “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

  4. Jul 1

    Understanding an Ancient Church in a Modern World

    In this episode of God Questions, we explore one of the most important issues facing believers today: How do we understand an ancient church in a modern world? Many Christians feel caught between two eras — the last echoes of older moral frameworks and the full force of a rapidly changing culture. Pastor Ian reflects on what it means to be a “transitional generation,” shaped by the past yet living in a world transformed by the social revolutions of the 20th and 21st centuries. Drawing on the great “between stages” of Scripture — the wilderness, the exile, the ministry of John the Baptist, and the early church — this episode shows that God often does His deepest work in seasons of transition. We look at: how the church can rediscover holiness without harshnesshow believers can remain faithful when culture shiftswhy the collapse of cultural Christianity may be God’s pruning, not His judgementhow the early church offers a blueprint for todaywhat it means to be a signpost pointing to Christ in uncertain timesThis is a message of hope, clarity, and calling for anyone who feels the tension of living between what the church once was and what God is shaping it to become.

  5. Jun 24

    No Popery, No Tyranny, No Arbitrary Power — A Gospel Reading of an Old Cry

    In this episode of God Questions, we explore the historic cry from the Revolution of 1688 — “No Popery, No Tyranny, No Arbitrary Power” — and reframes it through the lens of Scripture, grace, and the dignity of every person made in the image of God. Far from being a slogan of hostility, these three phrases become a call to Christian faithfulness: No Popery — not a rejection of people, but a rejection of any system that withholds Christ from the people. The gospel is for all, freely offered by God. (Romans 1:16)No Tyranny — a reminder that no one stands above the law, for all are equal before God and bear His image. (Genesis 1:27; Deuteronomy 16:19)No Arbitrary Power — a call for authority to be exercised lawfully, humbly, and with Christian compassion. (Micah 6:8)This homily invites us to rediscover these old words as living principles for today: gospel freedom, equality under God, and compassionate, accountable leadership. May these truths shape our hearts and our witness.

  6. Jun 17

    The Ascent to Christ: Israel’s True Aliyah and the New Covenant Hope

    What if the ancient biblical promise of “aliyah” was never primarily about soil, borders, or geography — but about the ascent of the human heart toward Christ? In this reflective episode of God Questions, Pastor Ian explores the profound spiritual meaning behind Israel’s “return,” tracing how Scripture moves us from land to Lord, from soil to Saviour. We look at why past generations — from Cromwell to Ryle — expected a physical restoration of Israel, and how their historical context shaped that reading. Then we step into the Hebrew roots of the word aliyah, discovering that its deepest meaning is “ascent,” not migration. Through the lens of the New Testament, we explore how Jesus, James, Revelation, and Paul re‑centre the promise around Christ Himself. The true gathering of Israel is not merely a return to a place, but a return to the Messiah — the Ark of the Covenant, the Temple not made with hands, and the Holy Land in whom all God’s promises find their fulfilment. This episode invites you into a quiet, contemplative ascent of your own — a “micro‑aliyah” of daily faith, rising toward the presence of Christ.

  7. Jun 10

    Why Did James II Imprison the Seven Bishops? | The Trial That Shaped Protestant England

    Pastor Ian Thompson Why did King James II send seven Anglican bishops to the Tower of London in 1688? In this episode of God Questions, we explore one of the most dramatic and defining moments in Protestant history: the Trial of the Seven Bishops. We look at: the political and religious crisis under James IIthe king’s controversial Declaration of Indulgencewhy the bishops refused to read it in their churchesthe constitutional issue of royal prerogativethe arrest and imprisonment of the bishopsthe dramatic trial and their unexpected acquittalhow this moment helped trigger the Glorious RevolutionWe also name and discuss the seven men at the heart of the conflict: William Sancroft, Archbishop of CanterburyThomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and WellsFrancis Turner, Bishop of ElyJohn Lake, Bishop of ChichesterThomas White, Bishop of PeterboroughWilliam Lloyd, Bishop of St AsaphJonathan Trelawny, Bishop of BristolThis episode explains why their stand for conscience, law, and Protestant faith still matters today — and how their courage helped shape the freedoms we enjoy. If you enjoy historical theology, Protestant heritage, or the story of how faith and law intersect, this is an episode worth hearing.

  8. Jun 3

    Stone, Dust, and Mercy: The Truth Behind John 8

    In this powerful episode of God Questions, we step into one of the most dramatic and misunderstood moments in the Gospels — the woman caught in adultery in John 8. What begins as a brutal public shaming becomes a breathtaking revelation of who Jesus really is: the One who holds perfect justice and perfect mercy in the same hand. We explore the trap set by the Pharisees, the silent tension of Jesus writing in the dust, the meaning of the stones they carried, and the Old Testament imagery behind His actions. This episode uncovers why the most dangerous place in the story isn’t where you think it is — and why the safest place for any sinner is always at the feet of Jesus. Whether you’ve ever felt exposed, ashamed, or unworthy… or whether you’ve ever felt the pull of self‑righteousness… this story holds up a mirror for every one of us. In this episode we cover: Why the Pharisees’ legal case was a deliberate trapThe meaning of halakhah (“the way to walk”) and how it was weaponisedWhy Jesus wrote in the dust — and how Jeremiah 17:13 unlocks the meaningThe sins of the poor vs. the sins of the religiousWhy the elders dropped their stones firstWhy mercy and justice must meet togetherWhat “Neither do I condemn thee… go and sin no more” really meansWhy the only safe place for a sinner is at the feet of JesusThis is a message of hope for the broken, a warning for the proud, and a reminder that the Cross and the Second Coming are both present in Jesus’ final words to this woman. If you’ve ever wondered whether God could forgive you, this episode is for you.

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About

God Questions is a short, accessible podcast designed to help young people explore the big questions they have about God, faith, and the world around them. Each episode is under 15 minutes, offering clear, thoughtful, Bible‑rooted answers that are easy to follow whether you’re on the go, taking a break, or simply curious. The aim of the podcast is simple: to give honest, meaningful responses to the kinds of questions young people often think about but rarely get the chance to discuss. Each episode looks at what the Bible teaches, how Christians have understood these ideas throughout history, and why these truths still matter today. Our goals are: to make conversations about faith clear and understandableto help young people think deeply about God and lifeto encourage curiosity, reflection, and real‑world applicationto create a safe, welcoming space for honest or difficult questionsGod Questions is for anyone who wants to grow in understanding, explore their beliefs, or learn more about what Christians believe and why it matters.

Information

  • Creator
    Pastor Ian Thompson Bootle Protestant Free Church
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 God Questions
  • Show Website
    God Questions