Podcast Summary: The BEMA Podcast
Episode 497: Brad Gray and Brad Nelson — The Lord’s Prayer
Aired: February 19, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of The BEMA Podcast features a rich conversation with Brad Gray and Brad Nelson, the minds behind Walking the Text and the new multi-media Lord’s Prayer project. Hosted by Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, the discussion explores the historical context and depth of the Lord’s Prayer, the making of their stunning film and book "Bringing Heaven Here," and the surprising lessons and transformative moments along the journey. Listeners are taken behind the scenes on how these resources were developed and what they hope to spark for communities engaging the prayer today.
Guest Introductions and Personal Backstories (00:10–04:45)
- Brad Nelson and Brad Gray share parallel backgrounds: former pastors, similar education (Cornerstone University, Western Theological Seminary, Jerusalem University College).
- Marty recounts early mentorship moments with Nelson and initial meetings with Gray, highlighting impactful advice about biblical hermeneutics.
- The “double Brad” confusion is humorously managed: Nelson typically goes by his last name to differentiate.
- Notable Quote:
"I'm Brad the bald, and he is Brad the hair... that's probably about the only difference we have." — Brad Gray (00:37)
- Notable Quote:
Walking the Text: Mission & Content Ecosystem (04:45–09:26)
- Brad Gray provides a “high level” overview of Walking the Text: from his career change into biblical study, time living in Israel, and shift from pastoring to full-time teaching and trip leading.
- Transitioned organization to digital-first content, including:
- Teaching Series (200+ video “TED talk”-style teachings)
- Study trips
- Speaking engagements
- New flagship project: The Sacred Thread (TV series)—Season 1 focused on the Lord’s Prayer
- Bringing Heaven Here: Film and companion book co-authored with Brad Nelson
- All resources are freely available; organization is crowdfunded.
- Future plans: multiple seasons of the Sacred Thread tackling key biblical topics.
How to Engage: Film, Series, or Book? (09:26–11:25)
- Brad Gray recommends starting with the film (available via Angel Studios), then reading "Bringing Heaven Here" for a deeper, personal journey with the prayer.
- The book serves as a companion but stands alone, with more on personal implications than the on-screen media.
- Reading and watching together is compared to reading Luke and Acts (“they ebb and flow”).
- Brad Nelson explains:
- The film is a condensed version of all seven Sacred Thread episodes.
- The series will provide deeper, line-by-line explorations (~30 minutes each).
- Context-rich content often leads people to revisit episodes multiple times for deeper understanding.
Behind the Scenes: Producing The Lord’s Prayer Film (11:25–17:10)
- Ambition: Create the “highest quality” Bible documentary to honor the narrative’s weight.
- Production Partnerships: Worked with Emmy-winning Evolve Studios; connected via chance meeting with their CEO at church.
- Unexpected Blessings: Mark Burnett (famed producer of "Survivor" and "The Voice") joined, suggesting a feature film format before episodic releases.
- On-location logistics: Filming took five years, spanned six countries (England, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, USA).
- Standard crew: under 10 people, except in Egypt (local requirements brought the team to 27).
- COVID and post-October 7 war context created unique challenges and unexpected open access to typically crowded sites (e.g., Capernaum, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Gethsemane).
- Notable Quote:
“We should be creating the best material. We have the best story in human history.” — Brad Gray (12:03)
- Miraculous Opportunities: Many instances where access was granted “on the spot,” often to sites that had not previously allowed cinematic cameras.
Theological and Contextual Insights: Surprises in the Lord’s Prayer (17:10–20:56)
- Nelson’s revelation: “Our Father in the heavens” uses plural in Greek and Hebrew (Shamayim), signifying a layered cosmos and God’s nearness and authority.
- Contextual insight connects this “zoomed out” view to spiritual and emotional resilience, paralleling astronaut perspectives and the narrative structure of Revelation.
- Encourages shifting view from ground-level struggles to God’s larger perspective.
- Notable Practice:
When his wife is struggling, Nelson sends her a photo of Earth: “Don’t forget to zoom out... you are a daughter of new creation.” (19:55).
Miracles and Challenges: Making the Film During Crisis (21:05–27:03)
- Brad Gray describes experiences of divine provision amid obstacles:
- Navigating lockdowns to film pilot (entering Israel mere days before borders closed again).
- April 2024: present in Jerusalem during Iranian drone attacks—filmed Iron Dome in action, sites miraculously available.
- Access to locations often uniquely open due to absence of tourists post-conflict.
- Recurring sense of being “directed” to be bold despite risk.
- Notable Quote:
“Literally, as people are watching what they're watching, they're seeing the actual sites... silent, quiet areas that we had full access to.” — Brad Gray (26:17)
Big Picture: Hopes for a Rediscovered Prayer (27:03–32:25)
- Why start with the Lord’s Prayer?
- Brad Gray: The Prayer is “the greatest distillation in the entire Bible for understanding who God is, why Jesus came, and what our purpose is here on earth.”
- Most people are familiar, yet it is underused—intended as a daily, transformative anchor (mirroring the daily practice in the Didache).
- Hope for the project:
- That communities will not just recite, but live the Lord’s Prayer daily, experiencing personal and communal renewal.
- Book’s impact cited, especially connecting Lord’s Prayer with the Mourner’s Kaddish (Jewish liturgy)—experiencing “power” and “legs” (31:38).
- Notable Quote:
“This wasn’t just the prayer Jesus was teaching to pray. It was the very prayer animating his daily life.” — Brad Gray (29:11)
The Film’s Cultural Moment and the Future of Sacred Storytelling (32:25–35:38)
- Nelson: COVID context revealed people retreating to streaming platforms—opportunity to create compelling, contextually rich biblical content in that space.
- “Americans alone in 2020 streamed 15 million years of content.”
- Sacred Thread aims to meet people “where they are,” with film quality that holds up in a choosy media landscape.
- Personal story: Nelson’s wife pushed for practical application—how does this prayer shape daily actions and parenting?
- Nelson’s story illustrates the transformation from theological insight to personal mission:
“I am a representative of the Father, and I am meant to go crashing into this person’s life as a member of the community of Jesus.” — Brad Nelson (35:17)
- Nelson’s story illustrates the transformation from theological insight to personal mission:
On the Writing Process: Co-authoring “Bringing Heaven Here” (36:19–42:30)
- Brent asks: How do two friends co-write a book?
- Nelson: It was challenging—required adjustment with time zones and film duties. Their personalities and gifts differ:
- Gray: Encyclopedic, leans contextual.
- Nelson: More storyteller/pastor, practical application focus.
- They ultimately alternated chapters for their unique voices, balancing context and life integration.
- Collaboration deepened after early leadership tension and external editor insight.
- “Brad is a walking, talking Bible encyclopedia... I’m more of a poet.” — Brad Nelson (37:51)
- Hard process—even tested their friendship—but produced a richer, more transformational book.
Notable, Lighthearted Moments & Quotes (42:57–45:01)
- Yehuda, the Israel guide:
- On camera, Yehuda is kind and insightful, but offscreen is “disagreeable in the most lovable way.”
- Anecdotes: racing up Masada, playful teasing about Gray’s lack of hair.
- Quote: “He drinks from the eternal waters of youth, man. It’s incredible.” — Brad Gray (44:50)
How to Access the Content and Final Encouragements (45:10–46:45)
- Resources:
- thelordsprayer.com: Central hub for the film, book, and series.
- walkingthetext.com: Archive of teaching videos and more content.
- All resources are free; designed for church and personal study.
- Final endorsement from Marty:
"Walking the Text is the good stuff... You’ll find a treasure trove of just really, really good content." (45:59)
- BEMA team thanks the guests, reminisces about previous recommendations, and encourages continued exploration.
Key Timestamps
- 00:10 — Introductions and shared backgrounds
- 04:45 — Walking the Text mission and ecosystem
- 09:26 — Recommended “order” for film, series, and book
- 11:25 — Behind the scenes of Lord’s Prayer film
- 17:10 — Surprising new context: “Our Father in the heavens”
- 21:05 — Miraculous access and filming during conflicts
- 27:03 — Core hopes for the project’s spiritual impact
- 32:25 — Streaming, culture, and sacred storytelling in a digital world
- 36:19 — Co-writing the book: wrestling process and voices
- 42:57 — Lighthearted stories about Yehuda the guide
- 45:10 — Where to find all resources and closing encouragements
Memorable Quotes
-
“We have the best story in human history... we should be creating the best material.”
— Brad Gray [12:03] -
“Don’t forget to zoom out. Don’t forget that new creation is coming, that you are a daughter of that new creation.”
— Brad Nelson [19:55] -
“This is what I am about. This is what you are to be about.”
— Brad Gray, explaining Jesus’ intent in teaching the Lord’s Prayer [29:11] -
“He is disagreeable in the most lovable way.”
— Brad Nelson, on Yehuda [44:24]
Takeaway for Listeners
The Lord’s Prayer is more than a liturgical recitation—it is a template for kingdom-shaped life, designed to be rediscovered, prayed, and lived daily. The new film, book, and forthcoming series invite believers into a deeper, more contextual journey with this prayer, with world-class visuals and accessible applications for faith communities today.
For further exploration, visit:
Summary by The BEMA Podcast Summarizer (2026)