Jesus the Legend

Hey everyone, welcome back to Jesus the Legend! I’m really excited about today’s conversation because we’ve got William Paul Young with us.

Paul was born in Alberta, Canada, and his journey has been anything but boring. He’s been to Bible school, he was a radio DJ, a lifeguard, and worked in the oil fields of northern Alberta. Over the years he’s also been a business owner and employee, working across industries like insurance, construction, contract work, and food processing. He’s been married for decades to his wife Kim, and they’re proud parents to six kids, with two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, and six grandkids.

Most people know him as the author of The Shack — a book that has impacted millions around the world and sparked a lot of meaningful conversation (and yes, some controversy) about the nature and goodness of God.

He’s also written Cross Roads, Eve, and Lies We Believe About God, each one inviting us to wrestle honestly with who God really is.

And if you want more, he hosts The Paul Young Podcast, where those conversations keep going. There’s so much more I could say, but let’s get into it… I’m just really grateful he’s here. Please welcome William Paul Young.

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Hey everyone — welcome back to Jesus the Legend. As always, I’m so glad you’re here.

Today I don’t want to talk about “where I am” like I’ve arrived somewhere. I want to talk about what I’ve learned. Because maybe you’re in the middle of some of the same tensions I’ve wrestled with over the years.

For a long time, I thought you had to choose. You were either revival… or you were liturgy. You were fire… or you were form. You were Spirit… or you were structure. And I was a revival guy. No question. I thought everything else was boring and lifeless!

I love passionate worship. Long altar times. Moments when the room feels electric. Tears. Joy. Laughter. Prophetic words. I want fire. I want encounter. I want something that feels alive.

When I used to the word “mass” or “liturgy,” I’ll be honest — I translated that as: dead religion. Cold routine. Empty ritual. I assumed structure meant the Spirit wasn’t moving. 

However, over the last while I’ve learned that I was wrong.

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Hey everyone, welcome back to Jesus the Legend.

It’s so good to have you here with me again because you guys are amazing! Today I want to spend time unpacking how I now read the Bible. If you’ve ever wrestled with Scripture, felt confused by it, or even a little afraid of it, I hope this conversation helps a bit.

I want to slow down and spend a little more time with it, because honestly, it’s one of those things that has been incredibly freeing for me. So let’s dig in a little further today.

Now I know this perspective is going to sound strange…or even uncomfortable to some of you, and that's completely okay. We’re all on our own journey and I still have a long way to go myself. What I’m sharing is simply my own experience with a way of reading Scripture through the lens of Christ. It's seeing the Bible as the beautiful story of progressive revelation which—for me—seems to be the most true, most coherent, and most life-giving understanding I've ever had.

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)

(Part 2 of 2) Hey everyone and welcome back to Jesus the Legend! Today I am sitting down for a chat with Brad Jersak! Now, if you haven’t heard his name I strongly recommend you check him out! Brad is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC and currently serves as the Principal of St. Stephen’s University in New Brunswick, where he continues as the Dean and faculty member of SSU’s School of Theology & Culture. He also teaches peace studies courses with The Jim Forest Institute and is a regular Open Table Conference crew lecturer.

As if that isn’t enough, Brad is also part of the Plain Truth Ministries team, where he serves as Pastoral Scholar. He writes, edits, and does layout for CWR magazine, CWR press, and the CWRm blog.

Through his books and seminars, Brad shares the good news that God is Love, perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ, and that God’s love heals wounded hearts and empowers us to heal this broken world.

I’m so very thankful he has put some time aside to hang out with us because his teaching has really transformed the way I think in many ways. So get ready - you’re gonna love this.

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)

(Part 1 of 2) Hey everyone and welcome back to Jesus the Legend! Today I am sitting down for a chat with Brad Jersak! Now, if you haven’t heard his name I strongly recommend you check him out! Brad is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC and currently serves as the Principal of St. Stephen’s University in New Brunswick, where he continues as the Dean and faculty member of SSU’s School of Theology & Culture. He also teaches peace studies courses with The Jim Forest Institute and is a regular Open Table Conference crew lecturer.

As if that isn’t enough, Brad is also part of the Plain Truth Ministries team, where he serves as Pastoral Scholar. He writes, edits, and does layout for CWR magazine, CWR press, and the CWRm blog.

Through his books and seminars, Brad shares the good news that God is Love, perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ, and that God’s love heals wounded hearts and empowers us to heal this broken world.

I’m so very thankful he has put some time aside to hang out with us because his teaching has really transformed the way I think in many ways. So get ready - you’re gonna love this.

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)