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Heroes are often underrated. Our world honors and extols people with great intelligence, physical abilities, or outward beauty, while the meek, the humble, and the lowly are often passed by. But “the Lord sees not as man sees.” (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV) In this podcast, we document the stories of Christian heroes—people who may not have been highly esteemed by the world, but who were truly great in God's sight. Visit thegreatpodcast.org for more information!
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Ursula von Münsterberg: Escape Artist for God
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Martin Luther's wife Katie wasn't the only nun who ran away from a convent during the 1520's. After embracing the truth of justification by faith, an intrepid noblewoman named Ursula and two fellow sisters staged their own dramatic escape and joined the dozens of other nuns slipping out of convents during this time. Learn why Ursula's story is spec…
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Most of us who have heard of Melanchthon at all tend to think of him as Luther's shy, soft-spoken sidekick. This is somewhat true, but it's a mere fragment of the big picture. If Martin Luther was the beating heart of the Reformation, then Philipp Melanchthon was its brains. You won't want to miss this episode of Great in God's Sight as we explore …
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Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived! Some use this macabre jingle to remember the wives of infamous King Henry VIII, but the queen who survived had a much more rich and interesting story than most history books give her credit for. In this episode of Great in God's Sight, meet Katherine Parr, a fearless woman of the Reformation a…
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Albrecht Dürer: Brushstrokes of the Reformation, Part 2
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Join us for part 2 of Albrecht Dürer’s story! This talented German artist was privileged to live in a particularly exciting era and felt the quickening heartbeat of the Protestant Reformation. As we trace the trajectory of his life, we see God’s hand clearly drawing Dürer to Himself. In this episode, we will explore not only the artist’s personal f…
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Albrecht Dürer: Brushstrokes of the Reformation, Part 1
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Albrecht Dürer is best known for his emblematic Christian artwork, “Praying Hands.” But beyond being one of the most brilliant artists of the German Renaissance, Dürer was also a staunch friend of the Reformation. Join us for part one of Albrecht Dürer’s journey in this episode of Great in God’s Sight! As always, don't miss the amazing artwork on o…
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Imagine a Christian leader afraid of reading the Bible. In the early 16th century this was relatively common. Superstition and fear led many believers to mistrust the Scriptures, for fear they would beguile them into heresy. In this episode of Season 3, learn how Menno Simons, a Catholic priest, began to trust the Word of God in an age when it was …
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In 1611, the King James Version of the Bible was produced— the combined masterwork of 47 scholars. However, by the time of his martyrdom in 1536, William Tyndale had translated the entire New Testament from Greek to English, along with portions of the Old Testament— alone. Only his untimely death prevented him from finishing the entire Bible. You w…
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Princess, poet, playwright, politician. . . . These are only several of the words that would aptly describe Marguerite of Navarre. Perhaps the most important would be “lover of God and His truth.” She welcomed and sheltered Reformers in her tiny realm, and interceded for them with her brother, the haughty and mighty king of France. Meet this remark…
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Ulrich Zwingli: Of Switzerland and Sola Scriptura
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Zwingli is to Switzerland as Luther is to Germany. Although eclipsed in our consciousness by its German counterpart, the Swiss Reformation sprung up simultaneously and was no less transformative. Meet the godly man who spearheaded this movement, Ulrich Zwingli. Born seven weeks after Luther, Zwingli was a dedicated pastor, preacher, and patriot who…
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SEASON 3 IS HERE!!!! And so, we begin with the man without whom any mention of the Reformation would be incomplete. In the early 1500’s, Martin Luther took God’s Word as his compass and navigated through some of the most threatening circumstances one could imagine: excommunication, death sentences, and life as a fugitive. Today, 505 years after the…
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EXCITING NEWS FLASH! Finale to our second season. 20th episode of Great in God’s Sight. Season 3 launching in FEBRUARY 2022! A huge thank you to all our faithful listeners— please stay tuned and share this podcast with everyone you know. We have many more exhilarating stories lined up for Season 3! Today, however, meet the unsung hero behind the bo…
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Johann Sebastian Bach: This Art Still Lives
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“If one were asked to name one musician who came closest to composing without human flaw, I suppose general consensus would choose Johann Sebastian Bach.” So said American composer Aaron Copland, and very few connoisseurs of classical music would disagree. But what was Bach’s secret? Join us for our latest episode of Great in God’s Sight as we meet…
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After many twists and turns and jolts and thrills, the celestial train cars are ready to embark on the last leg of their journey! Our pilgrim friend and Mr. Smooth-it-away are eager to resume the historic route made famous by John Bunyan's Christian. The portals of the Celestial City next await them. Or do they? Check out the fantastic artwork that…
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We are en route for the Celestial City, and the heavenly locomotive rumbles on! Join our pilgrim friend and Mr. Smooth-it-away as they explore the sites, frights, and delights of Vanity Fair. Is their final destination almost in sight? You won't want to miss the fantastic artwork that goes along with today's story! Check it out at thegreatpodcast.o…
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We hope you hear the train whistle loud and clear, as Great in God’s Sight brings you Part 2 of N. Hawthorne’s short story, the “Celestial Railroad”! If you missed the first leg of our journey with Mr. Smooth-it-away, be sure to catch a ride through Part 1 first. Before you know it, we’ll be back with Part 3, but in the meantime, check out the terr…
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John Bunyan's timeless classic, Pilgrims's Progress, has delighted and challenged its readers since 1678. However, almost two hundred years later, in 1843, American author Nathaniel Hawthorne published a short story, a modernized sequel to Christian's journey, that for whatever reason, has remained largely unknown and underrated. Hop on for today's…
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Sir Isaac Newton: On the Shores of the Ocean of Truth
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Q: What eminent scientist spent more time with his Bible than in the book of nature, penned more than 1.3 million words on theological subjects, and wrote a major work on the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation? A: Sir Isaac Newton. Although his name is unfailingly associated with gravitating apples, rainbow prisms, and advanced calculus, there's a…
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For those who have heard of Sir Robert Boyle, his name may invoke the image of a bewigged gentleman with curly locks falling far past his shoulders, or perhaps his contribution to the PV=nRT ideal gas equation that is a staple of chemistry courses. However, many do not know that this early Father of Modern Chemistry was a supremely devoted follower…
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Blaise Pascal: Where Faith and Reason Intersect
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We are privileged to live in an age of great scientific and technological advancement. Mind-blowing discoveries in the natural and physical realms have enhanced our lives today. In our newest episode, we will explore the intriguing life journey of Blaise Pascal, one of the great scientific minds in the 17th century. He made a name for himself throu…
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In today's world, science and faith are often perceived as in irreconcilable tension. But it is interesting to note that some of the greatest scientists in modern history were also people of tremendous faith. This week, as we begin Season 2 of Great in God's Sight, we will explore the life of renowned astronomer Johannes Kepler. Although his heart …
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Jerome, Cyril & Methodius: Bibles for East and West
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Final episode of Season 1! Imagine a world in which you must purchase numerous Scripture editions in order to possess a complete version. Each copy provides only a partial picture of the whole. Or perhaps, worse yet, the Bible isn't even available in your language. In this eighth and final episode of Season 1, we meet characters who were confronted…
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A century after Patrick evangelized Ireland, the Gospel desperately needed a new field of operation. Where would it be and who would be Patrick's successor? It has been said, “The hour produces the man.” In the sixth century, this came true when Columba, an Irish missionary, founded a church on the small island of Iona. Soon, his student missionari…
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[BONUS] William Wilberforce, Part 2: The Great Cause
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To what cause would you be willing to devote your energy, sweat, blood, and tears for twenty whole years, with no guarantee of success? Although the journey was excruciating, often with no light at the end of the tunnel, William Wilberforce was confident in God’s calling to help abolish the British slave trade. Join us for another bonus episode, an…
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[BONUS] William Wilberforce, Part 1: The Great Change
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Bonus episode! What would you do if you were heir to an extraordinary fortune, held an important seat in government, called the Prime Minister your best friend, and was widely-known as one of the most popular people in elite circles? All this (and more) was true of William Wilberforce at a very young age. Most of us would have written him off as ho…
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Questions. . . They form an unavoidable element of our religious experience, yet when beginning a relationship with God, it can be challenging to navigate the path between doubt and faith. The disciple Thomas, also known as Didymus ("twin"), fully experienced this dilemma. Join us in this sixth episode of Season 1 to gather insights from the "doubt…
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Take your memory back to life at age 15. Hopefully you encounter mostly positive memories. Now, imagine being stolen away from your family and friends to become a slave in a foreign land. Does this sound like a character in the Bible? It isn’t. Think we’re full of blarney? Listen on. Episode 5 of Season 1 is one you definitely won’t want to miss! V…
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Justin Martyr: Philosopher to Child of God
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Many believers are born into Christian homes; others find Jesus in their quest for truth. The figure in this fourth episode of Season 1 comes from the second group. Justin Martyr sought enlightenment through the writings of Greek philosophers, until a life changing encounter left him searching the Scriptures. Join us for an adventure as we delve in…
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Persecution of the early church came in waves; toleration of Christians varied based on location and timeline. In this third episode of Season 1, we will examine the life and death of one of Christianity’s first martyrs. Perhaps you’ve heard of Polycarp before, but we hope his important testimony will help ignite your spiritual life! Visit thegreat…
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Life is filled with ups and downs, triumphs and mistakes. While being a follower of Jesus certainly doesn't eliminate challenges, we can learn priceless lessons through those selfsame challenges. Join us for this second episode of Season 1, as we explore Mark's life and how he overcame failure. As we will see, it is not about who you are, but Who y…
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Self-worth—we often hunt for it in all the wrong places. Social popularity, achievement, and personal appearance are just few examples, but where should we expect to find genuine fulfillment? In the first episode of Season 1, we explore the life of the "disciple Jesus loved." Sure, you've heard of John before, but get ready for new lessons and fres…
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