Tomorrow’s Melbourne: A Podcast with Murray Campbell
Melbourne is a great city and it’s also deeply fractured. I’m hearing more stories of people finding the promises of secularism and materialism empty. Instead, we’re asking serious questions and looking for substantive and good alternatives. The story of Jesus is more intellectually compelling and soul satisfying than we have perhaps realised. I’m convinced that the ancient Scriptures offer a contemporary and eternal answer that makes a day at MCG and the brown nectar of Melbourne coffee feel like plastic substitutes! Let’s explore together... I (Murray) am a long-term Melbournian. I’m married to Susan, and we have 3 kids. I’ve served as Senior Pastor at Mentone Baptist Church since 2005. When I’m not working, I enjoy Bach and Debussy, cricket, coffee, good food and admiring Rothko.
Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Triple J released the top 100 hottest Aussie song list, as the world hears for the first time a song that was written 1800 years ago.
What does Aussie rock show us about the Aussie?
What does the Triple J list show us about Australia in 2025?
Dr John Dickson, along with Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding, have recreated the oldest known hymn.
In this episode, I continue the theme of new and old, contemporary and classic and how Zoomers are looking to the past to live for tomorrow. This ancient hymn offers us a positive direction.
Check out: https://www.thefirsthymnmovie.com/
https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/countdown/hottest100
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Melbourne and footy are synonymous, so it's only fitting to dedicate a whole episode to footy and faith!
Geelong AFL player, Ollie Dempsey, has recently shared his story about faith and footy. He is one of many professional athletes in Australia who believe in and follow Jesus.
Maybe it sounds strange, but why are more young people investigating Jesus?
His story might serve as a quiet encouragement to many young people
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
As Zoomers try out church for the first time, many are looking toward older and more traditional churches.
What is behind the growing interest in liturgical and classical churches?
What are some helpful tips for choosing an authentic and legitimate church?
In this episode, I explore 2 ways to assess the ‘real thing’: learning history and going back to first principles, namely the Bible. I include a set of diagnostic questions for evaluating a church.
Also, you might like to check out Gavin Ortlund's channel
https://www.youtube.com/@TruthUnites
Gavin's book, ‘What It Means to Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church’
Stephen McAlpine,
https://stephenmcalpine.com/liturgy-for-the-non-liturgical-christian/
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
Everyone wants to belong to a story. In this episode, I suggest that the Bible is the greatest story, and we are part of it.
The Bible is the story of the world
The Bible is the story of God
The Bible is the story of you?
Along with a reference to Courtney Barnett's song 'DePreston' , Rachel Gilson's book, 'Born again this way', and Tom Holland
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Are we too quick to dismiss the Bible as irrelevant and unreliable?
Data coming out of the UK suggests that Gen Z is reading the Bible more, not less.
Melbourne, be radical and read the Bible
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
There have been 4 anti-semitic attacks in Melbourne over the last 48 hours. This should trouble every Melbournian.
I'm reminded of a cry in Jeremiah and the consolation found by Simeon.
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Melbourne has been rocked this week with charges laid against 2 men, alleging that many young children have been abused by them. It involves 20 child care centres across Melbourne, with 1200 children being urged to seek medical attention for potential sexually transmitted disease. How do we understand evil? Why do we need Justice and a God who hates evil even more than us.
Safe Steps Crisis Line (Vic): 1800 015 188
Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line): 131 114
Monday Jun 30, 2025
Monday Jun 30, 2025
In 1998, The Living End wrote their song, ‘All torn down’.
What do we do when a city has taken down the past and all meaning?
How do we rebuild?
Where should we look for rebirth?
If Gen Z have anything to say, one suggestion is to reopen the Bible and discover Jesus
Monday Jun 23, 2025
Monday Jun 23, 2025
Tomorrow's Melbourne.
Welcome to a new podcast for Melbourne, looking at the issues and questions facing our city and exploring how the message of Jesus Christ provides real answers.
Murray Campbell is a long-term Melbournian who has been writing about culture and Christianity for years. He is now bringing his ideas to a podcast to share with the people of Melbourne.
Poem: 'the season that was Melbourne' https://murraycampbell.net/2020/09/19/the-season-that-was-melbourne/