New Beginnings: Embark on the Deep Waters Way - The Deep Waters Way

trailer

trailer
Published on:

28th Apr 2026

New Beginnings: Embark on the Deep Waters Way

Many people know how it feels to live among the dead—not quite dead themselves, but certainly not truly living either. On May 5, we're diving into this reality as we launch The Deep Waters Way, a podcast where scripture, theology, and transformation converge. Our inaugural series, New Beginnings, will challenge us to respond to Jesus' call to venture into deeper waters, culminating in the Great Commission. We recognize that struggle isn't evidence of failure, and growth doesn't happen automatically; it's a journey of cooperating with God's grace. If you’re ready to explore what lies beneath the surface of a life fully surrendered to Christ, then join us as we set sail for the depths together.

Transcript
Speaker A:

Many people know how it feels to live among the dead.

Speaker A:

Not quite dead themselves, but not truly living either.

Speaker A:

Know this the shepherd knows where the tombs are.

Speaker A:

Hi, I'm Ray Cooper, and this is the Deep Waters Way, where scripture, theology and transformation meet.

Speaker A:

Here we recognize that struggle isn't evidence of failure and growth isn't automatic.

Speaker A:

On May 5, we are setting out to explore what happens to our faith when we leave the shore in response to Jesus call to put out to deep waters.

Speaker A:

Our inaugural series, New Beginnings, starts with that call and culminates in the Great Commission.

Speaker A:

Along the way, we'll explore the transformation the Holy Spirit brings when we follow him unreservedly.

Speaker A:

We're starting from an understanding that if our study of God does not result in changed lives, then we aren't really studying God at all.

Speaker A:

And we're wrestling with the long, sometimes difficult process of cooperating with with God's grace.

Speaker A:

From scriptural studies to church history and real life ministry, we're seeking the depths of God's work.

Speaker A:

If you're tired of just getting by and you're ready to see what lies beneath the surface of a life fully surrendered to Christ, then join me.

Speaker A:

It's time to slip the moorings and head for the deep waters.

Speaker A:

The deep waters wake.

Speaker A:

Subscribe now.

Speaker A:

The journey begins May 5, the deep waters Way, Where scripture, theology and transformation meet.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Deep Waters Way

About the Podcast

The Deep Waters Way
Where Scripture, Theology, and transformation Meet
The shoreline is safe, but we weren’t created for the harbor.

Most of us live in the shallows of faith, where life feels familiar, manageable, and comfortable. But the shallows are deceptive. They can leave us stuck, complacent, and unchanged, while the deep waters of obedience and trust call us farther in.

The Deep Waters Way is a podcast for believers who sense there is more to the Christian life than simply getting by. Hosted by Ray Cooper, it offers biblical teaching and theological reflection shaped by the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, with an emphasis on Scripture, the creeds, and the way truth forms the Christian life. Here, Scripture and theology are not treated as abstract subjects, but as means by which God shapes our worship, our character, our calling, and how we live our lives.

This is a place for intellectual honesty and genuine discipleship. We study Scripture as a connected whole, paying attention to its themes, its historical and cultural setting, and the way one passage sheds light on another. We also explore the original languages and the historic creeds of the Church, not as academic exercises, but as tools for faithful interpretation and obedient living. We won’t settle for religious clichés; instead, we wrestle with the long and often difficult work of cooperating with God’s grace, because theology that does not shape our lives has missed its purpose.

As Moses reminded Israel in Deuteronomy 6, God’s words are meant to shape the whole of daily life—when we sit at home, when we walk along the way, when we lie down, and when we rise. In the same way, every part of life—our work, our relationships, our struggles, our worship, and our ordinary routines—can become an act of worship when it is formed by truth deeply embraced.

This podcast does not assume that growth is automatic, nor that struggle is failure. It speaks to those navigating doubt, conviction, renewal, identity, and the slow work of transformation. Whether we are exploring church history, how we got the Bible, translation questions, scriptural studies, or the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in daily life, the aim remains the same: to help you grow in Christ, read Scripture more faithfully, and live a life marked by holiness, love, and faithful witness.

It’s time to leave the safety of the shallows.

Let’s slip the moorings and head for the deep waters.

About your host

Profile picture for Ray Cooper

Ray Cooper

Ray Cooper is the host of The Deep Waters Way: Where Scripture, Theology, and Transformation Meet. With a background in both ministry and communication, Ray seeks to help believers move beyond surface-level faith into a deeper understanding of Scripture and a closer relationship with God.

Ray holds a BA in Communication (Broadcast Production) from Mississippi State University and a Master of Divinity from Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He has served eight years in pastoral ministry and more than a decade as an adult Sunday school teacher, with a passion for making theology accessible and practical for everyday believers.

Through The Deep Waters Way, Ray combines biblical teaching, clear theological explanation, interviews with guests, and practical application rooted in the Wesleyan holiness tradition within the broader Christian worldview.

Ray lives in Texas with his wife of 34 years, Miriam. They are the parents of four adult children and grandparents to four grandchildren. When he’s not studying or recording, Ray enjoys reading, cooking, and building and painting tabletop wargame miniatures.

Contact: admin@thedeepwatersway.com