100+ Significant Moments in Church History

Join Pastor Mike Woodruff and guest Collin Hansen, editor-in-chief of The Gospel Coalition, as they explore:The evolution of journalism from traditional reporting to advocacyChallenges in discerning truth in today's media landscapeImpact of changing media on faith and societyStrategies for thoughtful news consumptionThe importance of local journalismHansen's upcoming book on theodicy and evilThe enduring relevance of World War II in shaping moral understandingKey topics include:Media bias and its effectsThe 2016 election's impact on news reportingBalancing faith perspectives with current eventsCultural apologetics in the modern ageTune in for insights on maintaining a balanced, faith-informed view in our complex information age.

Enjoy listening to Mike lead a panel discussion about restoring trust at the sold-out inaugural Lakelight Institute Good Work Summit.  Panelists include Dr. David Miller (Director of Princeton Faith and Work Initiative), Mike Zafirovski (former President of Motorola) and Tom Tropp (Chief Ethics Officer at Gallagher).

Today Mike's guest is American philosopher Christian Miller, PhD, an award-winning professor from Wake Forest University who recently authored The Character Gap, has authored numerous other books and articles, and is a regular contributor to publications including Forbes.  He is also director of The Honesty Project. Mike and Dr. Miller discuss his work and how our character shapes our lives.

This week we are sharing with you a link to a podcast that Mike appeared on as a guest.In it, he talks about the importance of thinking well, particularly at this moment in history when we are allowing other voices to think for us. Mike argues for more “white space” as the volume and velocity of life is increasing every day. Mike also talks about some of his news rules including “less is more.”

On this week's podcast, Mike's guest is journalist, podcaster, and author Collin Hanson, who recently published a book on one of the 21st century's most influential church leaders--Tim Keller.  Collin is vice president for content and editor in chief of The Gospel Coalition, as well as executive director of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics.  Listen to Mike and Collin go behind-the-scenes on the life of Tim Keller and also discuss our need for an even more intentional voice of reason and hope in the midst of the cultural milieu of the moment.

This week's Press On guest is Dr. Jeff Brannon, chair of the Biblical Studies Department at Belhaven University, and author of the recently published The Hope of Life After Death: A Biblical Theology of the Resurrection. Dr. Brannon and Mike discuss the hope of Christ's resurrection, which changes everything.

In today's podcast, Mike talks with Ian Vaillancourt, a professor in Ontario and an award winning author about his most recent book, The Dawning of Redemption, which provides an accessible overview of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). Dr. Vaillancourt is particularly focused on the way the Bible is an unified work and the big themes are introduced early.

In this week's podcast, Mike explores the rise of Conspiracy Theories.  What are they? Why are they growing and how do we deal with them. His guest is Jared Stacey, a PhD student in Theological Ethics at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

In this week's episode of The Press On Podcast, Mike talks with Katie Schnack, the author of Everything is Not Fine: Finding Strength When Life Gets Annoyingly Difficult (IVP: Sept. 2023).  Through lots of stories (and humor) Katie reflects on the struggles she and her husband face when their son is born with very serious – and life-long – medical challenges.

Dr. Phil Ryken is a theologian, an author and the President of Wheaton College. He received his BA from Wheaton College, a Master of Divinity (1 of only 2 degrees after which you will likely lose money) – from Westminster Theological Seminary and then did a PhD in historical theology at Oxford.He joined the pastoral staff at 10th Presbyterian church in Philly in 1995 and became the SP there in 2000 following the death of James Montgomery Boice in 2000. In February 2010 he became Wheaton's eighth president.He is a member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals - which features his expository preaching on its weekly national radio and internet broadcast, Every Last Word. And he is the author of over fifty books.

This week's Press On Podcast is an interview with Cromwell Awadey, the Executive Director for IN (International Needs) Ghana, and one of the more delightful and winsome leaders I've been around. Cromwell leads 30 IN staff in their Accra office, and another 115 in the field.  In this interview we talk about the challenges facing Ghana, his leadership style, and some of the remarkable things being done.

Gil Hoffmann is a prominent Israeli journalist, who, in 2022 was named one of the Top 100 people “positively influencing Jewish life.” He grew up in the Chicago area, graduated from Northwestern and then moved to Israel, where he became an Israeli citizen, served in the Israeli army, and then became the chief political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post. He is currently the executive director of Honest Reporting. 

In conjunction with his recent trip to Israel, Mike is re-interviewing several Middle Eastern leaders. In this podcast he speaks with Dr. Salim Munayer, who has spent the last 30 years working in reconciliation work.

In today's episode, Mike talks with Jon Ferguson, who along with his brother, has: 1) planted a thriving church; 2) launched a church-planting network that has led to the creation of thousands of churches around the world; 3) launched Exponential – a conference for churches that plan churches; and 4) has written several award winning books.  Mike and John spend most of their time talking about  B.L.E.S.S.: Five Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World.

Few countries are as old, confusing or as important as Israel. In today's podcast, Mike goes to 30,000 feet to look down on the history of Israel from Abraham through the present.

In this episode of the podcast I have a chance to talk with Jeff Kemp about men, friendship and his new book, Receive. Jeff, who had an 11 NFL career and who has had lots of experience around politics (his Dad, who also played in the NFL, later served as a congressman and as Secretary of HUD).  You can access a PDF of Jeff's second book, Men Huddle QuickStart Playbook.

In today's podcast I have a chance to talk with Roy Schwarcz, who was raised Jewish in New York City before becoming a Christian in the early 70s. Roy, who has both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Jewish Studies, not only talks about Israel and Judaism, he answers a bunch of my questions about both.

This 100+ podcast is a discussion with author, speaker and podcaster David Moore about the key books and notable theologians of the 20th century.  Listen to a conversation about why we should read and where truth resides. Hear a list of the most influential 20th century people.

Over the last fifty years, Gordon MacDonald has: served as a pastor, written a dozen best-selling books – most notably Ordering Your Private World – and served as a trustee or senior leader at a variety of organizations, including Christianity Today, World Vision, Intervarsity and Denver Seminary. I've had the privilege of knowing Gordon for thirty years, have had him speak in a variety of venues – including at Christ Church - and have called him for advice (or encouragement) from time to time. In this podcast I ask him the kind of questions I ask him when we are not recording a podcast.

In today's episode, Mike talks with Jordan “Gorf” Gorfinkel about the Koren Tanakh Graphic Novel – his recently released work on the book of Esther. Gorf, a practicing Jew who previously managed the Batman franchise for DC Comics, and who also has a daily comic strip called Jewish Cartoon – has just signed a contract with Koren to turn the Hebrew Scriptures into 24 graphic novels. The Esther edition, which is designed for all ages, features the Hebrew Scriptures on page, and uses the English text illustrate the drawings.

Today Michael Gleason joins Mike Woodruff on the Press On podcast to discuss the revival at Asbury College. Dr. Gleason, who earned both Masters of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry degrees from Ashland Theological Seminary, and who has held a variety of ministry roles within the church and at various universities, is the author of both: When God Walked on Campus: A Brief History of Evangelical Awakenings at American Colleges and Universities and When God Walked Among Nations: The Leaders and Lessons of the First Great Awakening.

The Press On Podcast with Mike Woodruff welcomes Peter Williams. Peter has an M.A., M.Phil and a PhD from the University of Cambridge.  Before becoming the Principal of Tyndale House at Cambridge, he served as a lecturer in New Testament at the University of Aberdeen and a faculty member in Oriental Studies at Cambridge. Dr. Williams has served or is serving in a variety of academic settings, such as:  Chair of the International Greek New Testament Project and a member of the Translation Committee of the English Standard Version of the Bible. In addition to haven written numerous scholarly articles, he has written, edited or contributed to a number of academic books. He has also written some popular books, such as Can We Trust the Gospels? (Crossway, 2018) and the soon to be released, The Surprising Genius of Jesus.

Dr. Evan Hunter joins Mike Woodruff on Press On to talk about his ongoing work among church leaders in Russia and Ukraine, including his recent visits there. Evan – who previously served on staff at Christ Church – is a vice president of ScholarLeaders, a globally known organization that encourages and equips theological leaders around the world. He is also the executive editor of InSights Journal for Global Theological Education.

Today's guest is Dr. John Dickson, an engaging author, international speaker and the founding Director of the Centre for Public Christianity (2007-17). John, who has a PhD in Ancient History, who has published over 20 books and produced several television documentaries, and who has taught at around the world, including at Oxford, recently joined the faculty at Wheaton College.  In this conversation we focus on his book, Bullies and Saints, which explores the best and worst in church history – including the Crusades, Inquisition and Child Sexual Abuse scandals.

Today on the Press On Podcast Mike interviews Chris Ganski, a pastor-theologian and founder of City Reformed Church in Milwaukee.  Chris holds a MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, a PhD in theology from Marquette University and has taught theology at Yale University.  Today Mike and Chris discussed the doctrine of Christ's ascension.

This 100+ podcast is a discussion with author, speaker and podcaster David Moore about the key books and notable theologians of the 19th century.  Listen to a conversation about why we should read and where truth resides. Hear a list of the most influential 19th century people, including theologians Friedrich Schleiermacher, Charles Hodge, B.B. Warfield, and Abraham Kuyper. And learn why you should add Emily Dickinson's poetry, Abraham Lincoln's speeches, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Victor Hugo's novels and Frederick Douglass's Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.

Mike Woodruff sits down with Judy and Harold who lost their son Andrew to suicide less than 2 years ago. This difficult conversation shines a light on the  struggle of mental health and it's effect on faith and family.

100+ is an overview of 100 of the most important people events and ideas of the last 2000 years. This is a survey of the forces and factors that have shaped today's world, western civilization, the Christian faith and you.In today's lecture we will be focusing on fundamentalism, a many faceted term and movement. We will consider it mostly as the early 20th century movement that emerges as a push back against modernity, but we will also note that it expands in a number of different directions since then. Most notably, when Martin Marty launched the fundamentalism project in 1987, which began to track the illiberal movements of all types of groups, both religious and political.

Today, Pastor Mike is interviewing Andy Duran. Andy is the executive director of L.E.A.D. (Linking Efforts Against Drugs). Together, they discuss the world of legalized recreational marijuana and how it has changed, grown, and even surprised here in Illinois.To check out Pastor Mike's sermon on marijuana, click the link below.https://youtu.be/7NlFwHnHSrI

In today's episode, Pastor Mike Woodruff will be focusing on the Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal Movements, which, from their humble beginnings in Kansas and California, took the world by storm during the 20th century.100+ is an overview of 100 of the most important people events and ideas of the last 2000 years. This is a survey of the forces and factors that have shaped today's world, western civilization, the Christian faith and you. This series of lectures is based on the idea that if we step back to the early Greeks and Romans and trace how their intersection with the Jews and Christians unfolded through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment, modernity and post modernity will not only gain a better understanding of the past, but will also gain greater clarity about today; and we will grow in our understanding about what it looks like to follow Christ more thoughtfully and faithfully at this moment.

100+ is an overview of 100 of the most important people events and ideas of the last 2000 years. This is a survey of the forces and factors that have shaped today's world, western civilization, the Christian faith and you. This series of lectures is based on the idea that if we step back to the early Greeks and Romans and trace how their intersection with the Jews and Christians unfolded through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment, modernity and post modernity will not only gain a better understanding of the past, but will also gain greater clarity about today; and we will grow in our understanding about what it looks like to follow Christ more thoughtfully and faithfully at this moment.

Pastor Mike Woodruff is back with another special episode of 100+. Here he interviews Dr. Salim Munayer while in Israel on a spiritual pilgrimage. Salim is the second of three interviews Pastor Mike did while there, so stay tuned for part three coming next week.100+ is an overview of 100 of the most important people events and ideas of the last 2000 years. This is a survey of the forces and factors that have shaped today's world, western civilization, the Christian faith and you. This series of lectures is based on the idea that if we step back to the early Greeks and Romans and trace how their intersection with the Jews and Christians unfolded through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment, modernity and post modernity will not only gain a better understanding of the past, but will also gain greater clarity about today; and we will grow in our understanding about what it looks like to follow Christ more thoughtfully and faithfully at this moment.

Pastor Mike Woodruff is back with another special episode of 100+. Here he interviews Rev. Dr. Yohanna Katanacho while in Israel on a spiritual pilgrimage. Yohanna is the first of three interviews Pastor Mike did while there, so stay tuned for parts two and three.100+ is an overview of 100 of the most important people events and ideas of the last 2000 years. This is a survey of the forces and factors that have shaped today's world, western civilization, the Christian faith and you. This series of lectures is based on the idea that if we step back to the early Greeks and Romans and trace how their intersection with the Jews and Christians unfolded through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment, modernity and post modernity will not only gain a better understanding of the past, but will also gain greater clarity about today; and we will grow in our understanding about what it looks like to follow Christ more thoughtfully and faithfully at this moment.