What does it mean to be People of the Way in a time when the Church is being invited to rediscover what it means to follow Jesus?
Recorded live at Vineyard Canada’s Gather event in Calgary in 2025, David Ruis sits down with David Ross, a leader from Epic Vineyard Church, who also is a professor at Alberta Bible College, and an emerging theologian in the Vineyard movement. Through his writing on his blog ‘Renewing Renewal’ and his work in the classroom and local church, David has a particular passion for bringing together Scripture, theology, Christian tradition and the life of the Spirit.
Together, the Davids explore what it means to be a People of the Way—to move beyond simply holding beliefs about Jesus and toward a life shaped by his teachings, his character and his way of being in the world. Ross addresses God using foolishness to shame the wise, how hypocrisy being exposed in the Church clarifies the Way of Jesus, and what surrender actually looks like in seasons of suffering. Their conversation invites us to consider how theology and discipleship belong together, and how following Jesus is both something we think deeply about and something we must practice.
A quick note about the recording: this conversation was recorded live, in a room full of people—including quite a few children! So you may hear some of the beautiful ambient noise of a gathered community at the beginning of the recording. Hang in there—the room settles as the conversation gets underway, and the audio improves considerably. We decided that a little evidence of children being present was worth keeping in order to preserve the reality of the gathering.
David Ross is passionate about the Church and the charismatic movement, which he believes has played a vital role in shaping his own life and has much to offer the mission and witness of the global Church. At the same time, he is committed to exploring the movement’s weaknesses, particularly its tendencies toward anti-intellectualism and distrust of the rich traditions of the historic Church.
David is passionate about seeing the renewal movement itself renewed—holding onto its strengths while engaging more deeply with Scripture, theology, church tradition, Christian spirituality, and the life of the mind. He values open and respectful dialogue, critical thinking, and a commitment to building a healthier, less divisive Church.