Apollos Watered

The more we are online, the more disembodied we are. As Christians, we want to be rooted in a time and in a place. In The Art of Living in Season, Sylvie Vanhoozer invites readers to join this community of little saints and to follow them not only at Christmas but also throughout the whole year. Each chapter introduces a new santon (little saint) and opens up another aspect of our annual pilgrimage toward Christ. Structured as weekly reflections and illustrated with Vanhoozer's own botanical illustrations, this book invites us to follow Christ in our own places and seasons of life, beginning by keeping in step with the rhythms of nature and the church calendar. The Art of Living in Season is a companion for everyday saints who wonder how they can follow Jesus-what they can give him-wherever, whenever, and whoever they are. Check out Sylvie's website and get the book.If you want to purchase a santon from France or another here. There is also an American website that sells these particular santons.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

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What if the help that you are giving to people in the community or on a mission trip actually do the exact opposite of what you want? In other words, what if your helping hurts? Today's guest is Dr. Brian Fikkert. Dr. Fikkert is Professor of Economics and Community Development and the Founder of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. He is coauthor of the best-selling book When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself as well as Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions, Helping Without Hurting in Church Benevolence, and From Dependence to Dignity: How to Alleviate Poverty Through Church-Centered Microfinance. Dr. Fikkert earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University, specializing in international economics and economic development. He is the author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals. Prior to coming to Covenant College, he was a professor at the University of Maryland—College Park and a research fellow at the Center for Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

In this second conversation with Michael Wear, Travis and Michael continue discussing his book, The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life. Travis and Michael discuss abortion, same-sex marriage, partisan politics, how politics is spiritually forming us, political exhaustion, helplessness, Dallas Willard, and so much more. Michael Wear is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution based in the nation's capital with the mission to contend for the credibility of Christian resources in public life, for the public good. For well over a decade, he has served as a trusted resource and advisor for a range of civic leaders on matters of faith and public life, including as a White House and presidential campaign staffer. Michael is a leading voice on building healthy civic pluralism in twenty-first-century America. He has argued that the spiritual health and civic character of individuals is deeply tied to the state of our politics and public affairs. Michael previously led Public Square Strategies, a consulting firm he founded that helps religious organizations, political organizations, businesses, and others effectively navigate the rapidly changing American religious and political landscape.Michael is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life, a paradigm-shifting book that advances a vision for spiritual formation in the context of political life. Michael's first book, Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America, offers reflections, analysis, and ideas about the role of faith in the Obama years and what it means for today. He has co-authored or contributed to, several other books, including Compassion and Conviction: The AND Campaign's Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement, with Justin Giboney and Chris Butler. He also writes for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Catapult Magazine, Christianity Today, and other publications on faith, politics, and culture.Learn more about Michael.Learn more about The Center for Christianity and Public Life.Get the book.Sign up for the Apollos Watered

We are in the political season and every election cycle, we hear that there is so much at stake and that this election is the most important ever. We hear about one scandal or another, and we hear about the issues (which are extremely important), but it's gotten to the point where it is a zero-sum game, and Christians are being used to engage in politics in a way that denigrates their testimony and sacrifices the content of their faith. Is there a way to protect life and honor Jesus at the same time? Michael Wear has an idea. Michael Wear is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution based in the nation's capital with the mission to contend for the credibility of Christian resources in public life, for the public good. For well over a decade, he has served as a trusted resource and advisor for a range of civic leaders on matters of faith and public life, including as a White House and presidential campaign staffer. Michael is a leading voice on building healthy civic pluralism in twenty-first-century America. He has argued that the spiritual health and civic character of individuals is deeply tied to the state of our politics and public affairs. Michael previously led Public Square Strategies, a consulting firm he founded that helps religious organizations, political organizations, businesses and others effectively navigate the rapidly changing American religious and political landscape.Michael is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life, a paradigm-shifting book that advances a vision for spiritual formation in the context of political life. Michael's first book, Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America, offers reflections, analysis, and ideas about the role of faith in the Obama years and what it means for today. He has co-authored or contributed to, several other books, including Compassion and Conviction: The AND Campaign's Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement, with Justin Giboney and Chris Butler. He also writes for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Catapult Magazine, Christianity Today, and other publications on faith, politics, and culture.Learn more about Michael.Learn more about The Center for Christianity and Public Life.Get the book.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world...

We are in a time where the cultural topography is shifting. The message hasn't changed, but our position in the culture has. Is there an example we can look to to find inspiration? Stephen O. Presley believes so. Drawing upon the first three centuries of Christianity, Stephen takes us on a journey into the mind of the early church of the first few centuries, showing us that their time is not so different from our own. While they employed a dynamic apologetic, we need to learn from their posture in the face of persecution. It's one of the most engaging and insightful conversations we have ever had on Apollos Watered. He serves as the Senior Fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion Culture and Democracy (an initiative of First Liberty Institute) and Associate Professor of Church History at Southern Seminary. Stephen O. Presley earned his undergraduate degree at Baylor University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is married to Haley and they have four children and reside in McKinney, TX. Learn more about Stephen and get the book.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

What should be our posture to the quickly changing, chaotic world around us? We all know about the early church in the book of Acts, but what about after that? What was the church's approach to the world around it in the second and third centuries? Can we learn anything from them? Stephen O. Presley believes that our time is not so similar from theirs and we can learn a great deal from how they interacted with the world. He serves as the Senior Fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion Culture and Democracy (an initiative of First Liberty Institute) and Associate Professor of Church History at Southern Seminary. Stephen O. Presley earned his undergraduate degree at Baylor University, Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is married to Haley and they have four children and reside in McKinney, TX. Travis and Stephen talk about his new book, Cultural Sanctification, and how there is really nothing new under the sun. This was one of the best and most invigorating conversations ever had on Apollos Watered and it will help you in your calling to engage the world for Jesus.Learn more about Stephen and get the book.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

John Plake, of the American Bible Society is back to present us with the State of the Bible report for 2024. Stats tell stories, the question is, what story are the stats telling us right now? What is the state of Bible reading in America? What does that tell us? What does it mean for our churches? What does it mean for the different ethnic groups? What about different generations? There is some bad, but there is some hope as John shares with us what the data reveals about where God is working.Informative, challenging, and enriching, this is a conversation that will help you think through what God is doing, what He is calling us to do, and how we can join the opportunities He has created for us. Check out the American Bible Society.Download the State of the Bible Report.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Is the book Acts about the Holy Spirit? The apostles? Spiritual gifts? Or the interaction with cultures? What is the purpose of the church? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus in a pluralistic society? How do we build a bridge to communicate the gospel and then confront the new culture with the gospel message? Is there a "pure" gospel? What does it mean when every theology is a contextual theology? Join Travis as he continues his discussion with Dean Flemming, as they discuss the need to contextualize the gospel so that our audience understands it, and is challenged by it. Today's guest is Dr. Dean Flemming. Dean Flemming (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is an award-winning author, Bible teacher, and seminar speaker. He is Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Mission at MidAmerica Nazarene University and teaches New Testament at the Missional Training Center in Phoenix, AZ. He served for 24 years as a theological educator in the Philippines and Germany and has taught in many global settings.Dean is the author of six books, including Contextualization in the New Testament, which won a Christianity Today book award, and a commentary on Philippians that received the Smith-Wynkoop book award. He writes especially on the connection between the New Testament and mission. An ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, Dean has pastored churches in Ohio and Japan. He is active in his local church, which includes teaching an adult Bible class.Today, he joins Apollos Watered to discuss his book, Contextualization in the New Testament, and how the early church contextualized the message of Jesus to its audience and we must do the same thing as well. This conversation will help you to identify what contextualization is, why and how it was done in the early church, and how it might help you communicate the Gospel effectively today to those in your world. Learn more about Dean Flemming.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Join God in what He is doing in and through Apollos Watered by becoming one of our patrons today!

"Just be biblical!" "Preach the Word!" are phrases we hear from well-meaning Christians who want to see lives transformed. Rarely, however, do we think about exactly how we are supposed to do it. What do we mean by "be biblical"? Does that mean act like those in the first century? And what exactly are we preaching? Christ crucified for sure, but what stories, illustrations, and metaphors do we employ to build a bridge that help our listeners understand what the cross really means? It sounds complicated, but it's actually not as hard as we think. You have probably heard the phrase, "Know your audience!" That's what we are talking about. Communicating to your audience in a way that they understand. As Christians, we call this process, "contextualization." How do we go about communicating the gospel to those from different backgrounds than us that enables us to communicate in a way that they understand without compromising what the Gospel calls for. Today's guest is Dr. Dean Flemming. Dean Flemming (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is an award-winning author, Bible teacher, and seminar speaker. He is Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Mission at MidAmerica Nazarene University and teaches New Testament at the Missional Training Center in Phoenix, AZ. He served for 24 years as a theological educator in the Philippines and Germany and has taught in many global settings.Dean is the author of six books, including Contextualization in the New Testament, which won a Christianity Today book award, and a commentary on Philippians that received the Smith-Wynkoop book award. He writes especially on the connection between the New Testament and mission. An ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, Dean has pastored churches in Ohio and Japan. He is active in his local church, which includes teaching an adult Bible class.Today, he joins Apollos Watered to discuss his book, Contextualization in the New Testament, and how the early church contextualized the message of Jesus to its audience and we must do the same thing as well. This conversation will help you to identify what contextualization is, why and how it was done in the early church, and how it might help you communicate the Gospel effectively today to those in your world. Learn more about Dean Flemming.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Join God in what He is doing in and through Apollos Watered by becoming one of our patrons today!

"Christians should not be talking about politics!" is what I heard when I was a young Christian. Is that true? How can Christians be engaged in politics in a biblically faithful way? What does it mean to be a political disciple? Should we as Christians stay out of politics? These are questions that we all must wrestle with if we are to have an effective witness in the world. Join Travis and Dr. Vincent Bacote as they discuss what it means to be a political disciple in a polarized world. Dr. Vincent Bacote is a Professor of Theology and the Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL.He is the author of Reckoning with Race and Performing the Good News: In Search of a Better Evangelical Theology (2020), The Political Disciple: A Theology of Public Life (2015), The Spirit in Public Theology: Appropriating the Legacy of Abraham Kuyper (2005), and has contributed to books including On Kuyper (2013), Aliens in the Promised Land (2013), Keep Your Head Up (2012) and Prophetic Evangelicals (2012).He is a regular columnist for Comment Magazine and contributes to other magazines, including Books and Culture, Christianity Today, Think Christian and re:generation quarterly, and journals such as Christian Scholars Review, Urban Mission and the Journal for Christian Theological Research. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Christian Ethics.He resides in the Chicago area with his family. Travis and Vincent discuss what it means to be political, why the church needs to have a robust political theology (how God wants us to go about politics that is biblically faithful), common grace, and how our political theology has changed over time, as well as the very purpose of government. Vincent also discusses some other theologians and how they have shaped how we see politics today, names like Abraham Kuyper, John Howard Yoder, and Stanley Hauerwas. While they may be unfamiliar, they have affected how we view and even engage the political process today. Vincent also gives Travis some lessons on Jazz. Learn more about Vincent.Get Vincent's book The Political Disciple. One of the books referred...

Travis and Jake continue their conversation discussing his book, "What Are Christians For?" Surprisingly, there is a great deal of confusion as to what the role of Christians should be in society. Is it only to be disciples who make disciples? Is it to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? What about in our public life? What role does our Christian faith play in the political sphere? Our vocation? Does it have any effect on the environment? The answer may surprise you. Jake is the editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy, an online periodical seeking to be a voice of sanity in the midst of craziness. His writing has appeared in First Things, Books & Culture, Christianity Today, Commonweal, Front Porch Republic, National Review and Fare Forward. He is the author of two books, In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World and What are Christians for?: Life Together at the End of the World. Travis and Jake discuss Lincoln, Nebraska, Tanzania, Wendell Berry, N.T. Wright, Herman Bavinck, Francis Schaeffer, Elisabeth Elliot, and what our role as Christians is to be in the world. Episodes referred to in this episode: Listen to #234 | What Are Christians For? with Jake Meador, Pt. 1Learn more about Jake. Check out Mere Orthodoxy.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!

What Are Christians For? Is it only to be disciples who make disciples? Is it to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? What about in our public life? What role does our Christian faith play in the political sphere? Our vocation? Does it have any effect on the environment? The answer is an unequivocal, yes! Jake Meador is today's guest on Apollos Watered, discussing his book, What Are Christians For? Jake is the editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy, an online periodical seeking to be a voice of sanity in the midst of craziness. His writing has appeared in First Things, Books & Culture, Christianity Today, Commonweal, Front Porch Republic, National Review and Fare Forward. He is the author of two books, In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World and What are Christians for?: Life Together at the End of the World. Travis and Jake discuss Lincoln, Nebraska, Tanzania, Wendell Berry, N.T. Wright, Herman Bavinck, Francis Schaeffer, Elisabeth Elliot, and what our role as Christians is to be in the world. Learn more about Jake. Check out Mere Orthodoxy.Sign up for the class, "God's Greatness | Your Mission" here! Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!

What do you need in your relationship with God? I am sure you can think of many things. One thing that has helped so many Christians and churches is developing a relationship with global Christians, and in doing so, you find your vision of God expands, your relationship with God deepens, and your zeal for ministry exponentially increases. Today's guest, Stephen Pardue, takes us on a journey into the global church and how global theology increases our view of God, helps us to join with what God is already doing, and fulfills His mission with our neighbors who are different from us. Stephen T. Pardue (PhD, Wheaton College) directs the ThM/PhD in theological studies and church history at the Asia Graduate School of Theology and teaches theology at the International Graduate School of Leadership in Manila, Philippines. He is the author of Why Evangelical Theology Needs the Global Church and the coeditor of 10 books, including Majority World Theology and Asian Christian Theology. He and his wife, Teri, have four children and belong to Union Church of Manila.Sign up for the class, "God's Greatness | Your Mission" here! Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!A couple of the episodes referenced in today's episode: #150 | Scriptural Illiteracy & Secular Imagination, Pt. 1 | Kevin Vanhoozer#151 | Scriptural Illiteracy & Secular Imagination, Pt. 2 | Kevin Vanhoozer

In this second part of our conversation, Travis and Tom discuss our political witness, premillennial dispensationalism, bad theology, Christian nationalism, and how the gospel is bigger than we often realize. While the gospel encapsulates our personal salvation, there is much more involved than just that, but the redemption of all creation. Understanding Tom means understanding not only what he is saying, but what he is responding to. Without that as a backdrop, you miss his point. Listen in and hear not only what he says, but what he is responding to, and as if often the case, it's the abuses in mind. N.T. Wright (Tom) is currently Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Mary's College in the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He has authored or co-authored over 90 books, and today he joins Apollos Watered to discuss his newest book, "Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies."Other episodes referred to in this episode:#150 | Scriptural Illiteracy & Secular Imagination, Pt. 1 | Kevin Vanhoozer#151 | Scriptural Illiteracy & Secular Imagination, Pt. 2 | Kevin Vanhoozer#226 | The Church Between Temple & Mosque | Dan StrangeSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!

What should our Christian political witness look like in an age of totalitarian terror and dysfunctional democracies? What is the church's role between Jesus and Caesar? What does Jesus' kingdom look like in the shadow of empire? How do we testify to the powers? How do we resist them? Today we welcome N.T. Wright to the show. Prof. Wright is currently Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Mary's College in the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He has authored or co-authored over 90 books, and today he joins Apollos Watered to discuss his newest book, "Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies."Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!

What role does politics play in the mission of God? How do we navigate the political field without stepping on a cultural landmine? What should our political engagement look like? And what do we do with things like Christian nationalism? Today's guest is Cherie Harder, President of the Trinity Forum. Cherie Harder serves as President of the Trinity Forum. Before joining the Trinity Forum in 2008, Ms. Harder served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Policy and Projects for First Lady Laura Bush.Earlier in her career she served as Policy Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, advising the Leader on domestic social issues and serving as liaison and outreach director to outside groups. From 2001 to 2005, she was Senior Counselor to the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), where she helped the Chairman design and launch the We the People initiative to enhance the teaching, study, and understanding of American history. Before that, Ms. Harder was the Policy Director for Senator Sam Brownback and also served as Deputy Policy Director at Empower America.She holds an Honors B.A. (magna cum laude) in government from Harvard University and a post-graduate diploma in literature from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where she was a Rotary Scholar. She is also a Senior Fellow at Cardus, an Editorial Board member of Comment magazine, a past board member of Gordon College and the C.S. Lewis Institute, a current board member of the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution and Faith and Law, and an advisory board member of the National Museum of American Religion.Check out The Trinity Forum Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!

There are so many things that are happening in our world today and churches are trying to figure out what to do next. What do we do next? How can we be faithful and fruitful in this moment? How do we do community in this world when people are already so busy? Pastor and author Stephen McAlpine shows us that the answers aren't that complex. We can future-proof our churches. Listen in as Travis and Stephen discuss Stephen's new book, Futureproof: How to Live for Jesus in a Culture That Keeps on Changing (Discipleship resource: a Christian response to cultural change and the future of the church)Check out Stephen's website.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered! #futureproof #stephenmcalpine #Christianity #church #churchinnorthamerica #reformation #rechurching #Jesus #Christ #brideofchrist #hope #christisking #apolloswatered #wateringfaith #travismichaelfleming #evangelicalism #Christian #goodnews #churchattendance #americanevangelicalism #committed

The stats reveal trouble in evangelicalism, Bible reading is down, church attendance is down, and the none's are rising. What's going on? In The Great Dechurching, authors Michael Graham, Jim Davis, and Ryan P. Burge have done the work and come back with the stats. It's both better and worse than we could imagine. 40 million people have stopped going to church in the last 25 years and that's just the tip of the iceberg. However, amid such depressing news, there is hope. Because many of them are willing and ready to come back! Listen as Travis and Michael Graham discuss the book, the stats, and what we can do to help connect people to Jesus and His church. Referenced in this episode is Dechurching.com, The Keller Center.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered! #thegreatdechurching #Christianity #church #churchinnorthamerica #reformation #rechurching #Jesus #Christ #brideofchrist #hope #christisking #MichaelGraham #theKellerCenter #apolloswatered #wateringfaith #travismichaelfleming #evangelicalism #Christian #goodnews #churchattendance #americanevangelicalism

Everywhere we look its about us. How "we" want things, "our" true self, "our" vision of the world, what "we" want, etc. Even algorithms cater to us, giving us more and more of what we want, but is that the secret to happiness? Getting more of what "we" want? There is a better way. By taking the focus off of ourselves and getting our focus back on God, that's not easy. We need some help. Who could help us refocus? How about from "those who are dead and yet still speak"? We need to go back and listen to those voices with God-centered lives: Jonathan Edwards, C.S. Lewis, and Augustine. Today, we welcome one of the greatest living historians of American history, George Marsden, who can help us do just that. Dr. Marsden brings Edwards into the twenty-first century, along with Augustine and C.S. Lewis, he helps us to see how we can reorient our lives in our modern times to be more God-centered and ordered by our loves rather than the algorithms of our modern world. Dr. Marsden is Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame, is an influential historian who has written extensively on the interaction between Christianity and American culture, particularly on Christianity in American higher education and on American evangelicalism. He is well known for his biography Jonathan Edwards: A Life. He has authored other books including The Soul of the American University, Religion and American Culture, Fundamentalism and American Culture, and C.S. Lewis's “Mere Christianity”: A Biography. Marsden studied at Haverford College, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Yale University; he has taught at Calvin University, Duke University, and the University of Notre Dame. Today, we discuss his newest book on Edwards, "An Infinite Fountain of Light: Jonathan Edwards for the Twenty-First Century."Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!

Where does Christianity stand between Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and the like? How do we build a relationship with those of other religions without losing ourselves in the process? What are the bridges that need to be crossed to lead them to Jesus? What is the mission of the church today? What role does the cultural mandate play? And how can the 20th-century Dutch missiologist, J.H. Bavinck help us understand the mission today so that we can do it both faithfully and fruitfully? What role does contextualization play in communicating that mission? That's what we discussed on today's show!Daniel Strange is the director of Crosslands Forum and the vice president of The Southgate Fellowship. He is one of the inaugural fellows of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics and is the author of Their Rock Is Not Like Our Rock: A Theology of Religions (Zondervan, 2015), Plugged In (The Good Book Company, 2019), and Making Faith Magnetic (The Good Book Company, 2021) (the book we are talking about today!) He is a contributing editor for Themelios and an elder of Hope Community Church, Gateshead, U.K., which is part of the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches (FIEC).It's a fantastic, fun, and faith-filled conversation that can help you build a bridge with unbelievers so that they too can know Jesus. This is a must-listen!Check out #177 Daniel Strange, Pt. 1 and #178 Daniel Strange, Pt. 2Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!

Part 2 of our conversation with Jen Pollock Michel as we continue to discuss her book, In Good Time. We are all busy, and have a hard time cultivating the habits that enable both being and doing. If we can't cultivate good habits, we have a harder time fulfilling God's mission. In this episode, Travis and Jenn discuss some of the seven deadly sins, and how our contemporary online lives are often guilty of the sin of vainglory, and our constant scrolling is a form of the ancient sin of acedia. We need to address these sins and cultivate habits that enable godliness. Jen is a writer, speaker, coach, and podcast host. She is the author of five books: A Habit Called Faith, Surprised by Paradox (winner of Christianity Today's 2020 Award of Merit for Beautiful Orthodoxy), Keeping Place, and Teach Us to Want (winner of Christianity Today's 2015 Book of the Year). She holds a B.A. in French from Wheaton College, an M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University, and is working to complete an M.F.A from Seattle Pacific University. After eleven years of living in Toronto, Jen now lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two youngest children. You can follow Jen on Twitter and Instagram @jenpmichel, subscribe to her Monday letters at www.jenpollockmichel.com, and listen to episodes of the Englewood Review of Books podcast.Learn more about JenListen to Part 1Sign up for the Apollos Watered email.Help revitalize the church in this moment! Support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Are you tired of being tired? Tired of being stressed out? Tired of not getting stuff done? How are those New Year's resolutions coming along? We all can get frustrated and overwhelmed with all the things that need to be done. Every year there is a new guru who pops up to help us do more, but what about "be" more? How can we get done what we need to get done, but resist hurry and practice peace at the same time? Today, we welcome Jen Pollock Michel onto the show to discuss her book, In Good Time. Jen is a writer, speaker, coach, and podcast host. She is the author of five books: A Habit Called Faith, Surprised by Paradox (winner of Christianity Today's 2020 Award of Merit for Beautiful Orthodoxy), Keeping Place, and Teach Us to Want (winner of Christianity Today's 2015 Book of the Year). She holds a B.A. in French from Wheaton College, an M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University, and is working to complete an M.F.A from Seattle Pacific University. After eleven years of living in Toronto, Jen now lives in Cincinnati with her husband and her two youngest children. You can follow Jen on Twitter and Instagram @jenpmichel, subscribe to her Monday letters at www.jenpollockmichel.com, and listen to episodes of the Englewood Review of Books podcast.Learn more about JenSign up for the Apollos Watered email.Help revitalize the church in this moment! Support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Where is the church headed? What do we do about the great dechurching that we see going on in the United States? What role does the culture play today? What about the church? Are we to give a Christian culture? How can we be "thicker" in culture than in the secular world? Travis and Albert discuss the state of the church, Christianity in America, contextualization, politics, the doctrine of subsidiarity, changing the world, the necessity of Christianity for liberal democracy, the Bockenforde dilemma, staying Christian in a society that is increasingly in opposition to Christian convictions, the Constantinian temptation, what it means to be countercultural today, the Global South, and so much more! Learn more about Dr. Mohler, his program The Briefing, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.Sign up for the Apollos Watered email.Help revitalize the church in this moment! Support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Can our Lord be seen by our politics? What do our politics say about us? Is the message of Jesus communicated in it? What about the way of Jesus? How is our Christian witness being affected by our politics? Do the means we employ reveal the message we believe? What happens if we focus on the message but miss the means? Listen in as Travis and Pete continue their conversation on politics in evangelicalism. Travis welcomes special guest Pete Wehner to the show today. Pete is a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, a writer and thinker who served in the Reagan administration and both Bush presidencies including as head of the office for strategic initiatives. He has written three books and has written for many publications, recently for The Atlantic and the NY Times. I met Pete at a symposium and found him to be a thoughtful and insightful voice in evangelicalism and into evangelicals' political involvement. He is a committed Christian, a political insider, and a voice needed for this moment. Sign up for the Apollos Watered email.Help revitalize the church in this moment! Support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Is our political focus, which we believe is for the greater good, actually doing the opposite for the Christian witness today? How do we maintain our integrity in the midst of political compromise? Is there a third way? Should we focus on the lesser of two evils? What happens if we continue to do that? Travis welcomes special guest Pete Wehner to the show today. Pete is a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, a writer and thinker who served in the Reagan administration and both Bush presidencies including as head of the office for strategic initiatives. He has written three books and has written for many publications, recently for The Atlantic and the NY Times. I met Pete at a symposium and found him to be a thoughtful and insightful voice in evangelicalism and into evangelicals' political involvement. He is a committed Christian, a political insider, and a voice needed for this moment. Episodes featured in today's show: Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes by Randy Richards. Sign up for the Apollos Watered email.Help revitalize the church in this moment! Support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Travis and Kevin reflect on their favorite episodes and books for 2023 and give a vision for Apollos Watered moving forward to help you water your world!Sign up for the Apollos Watered email.Help revitalize churches by supporting Apollos Watered!

Listen in as many of the guests from Apollos Watered over this past year read the Christmas story. Merry Christmas!Sign up for the Apollos Watered email.Help revitalize churches by supporting Apollos Watered!

Where is their idolatry in the evangelical church today? What idolatries have we smuggled into the church? How do we handle this? What will happen if we don't? How do we reach our crazy post-everything world today? Is there anyone we can turn to? Is there a person who can give us clarity? Is there a different perspective that we have to consider? In this second conversation with professor and former missionary, Matthew Bennett, they continue to discuss his book, Hope for American Evangelicals. Using Lesslie Newbigin as a guide, Matthew takes a missionary perspective to help us look at the American evangelical house and what needs to be done to remodel it by removing the rot and enhancing the good. Travis and Matthew discuss evangelicalism, missions, contextualization, multi-ethnic ministry, sexual ethics and so much more. It's a conversation to help you find the connecting points to reach your world with the glorious news of Jesus. Check out part 1 of the conversation or Reaching and Teaching Ministries International.Sign up for the Apollos Watered email.Help revitalize the church in this moment! Support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

How do we reach our crazy post-everything world today? Is there anyone we can turn to? Is there a person who can give us clarity? Is there a different perspective that we have to consider? Travis welcomes professor and former missionary, Matthew Bennett, to the show to discuss his book, Hope for American Evangelicals. Using Lesslie Newbigin as a guide, Matthew takes a missionary perspective to help us look at the American evangelical house and what needs to be done to remodel it by removing the rot and enhancing the good. Travis and Matthew discuss evangelicalism, missions, contextualization, multi-ethnic ministry, sexual ethics and so much more. It's a conversation to help you find the connecting points to reach your world with the glorious news of Jesus. Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help revitalize the church in this moment! Support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Are you creative? Have you felt your creative gifts weren't desirable or valuable for the gospel and the expansion of God's kingdom? If you have, then this episode is for you! Too often the creatives among us have been relegated to the kids' table of ministry, and in doing so we have lost the ability to tap into the imagination and help people to see who God is. There have been so many creatives that the church has lost simply because there wasn't a value placed upon them. Travis welcomes Amy Howley Pierson to the show to discuss her book, Makers in a Thinker's World: What Brain Science Teaches about the Spiritually Transforming Power of Creativity. Rediscover what it means to be creative, what our brains say about it, and how important it is in our spiritual formation. Learn more about Amy. Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help revitalize the church in this moment! Support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Your work matters. God cares a great deal of what you do in the 9 to 5. Whether you are working as a mechanic in a garage, a C-suite executive, or a homemaker, God cares about your work. Listen in as Travis continues his discussion with Jeff Haanen on his book, Working from the Inside Out (IVP, 2023). Jeff is a writer, entrepreneur, and founder of the Denver Institute. It's a conversation about how we follow God in our workplace, how transformation takes place, and how we can walk with God in the space where we spend most of our lives. Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Does your work matter to God? What does that look like? How do we glorify God in the 9 to 5? How much does Sunday influence our Monday? Travis welcomes Jeff Haanen to the show to discuss his book, Working from the Inside Out (IVP, 2023). Jeff is a writer, entrepreneur, and founder of the Denver Institute. It's a conversation about how we follow God in our workplace where we spend most of our lives. It's insightful and it will be transformative for all who seek to do their work for the glory of God. Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

What does 1776 have to do with LGBTQ+? What does it have to do with expressive individualism? What does it have to do with the rise of atheism, agnosticism, and secularism? Plenty. Travis welcomes Andrew Wilson to the show to discuss his book, Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West. It's a discussion of how we got WEIRDER: Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic, Ex-Christian, and Romantic. Travis and Andrew discuss how the post-Christian West came to be, what it means for us now, and how we can live effectively. Andrew Wilson (PhD, King's College London) is the teaching pastor at King's Church London and a columnist for Christianity Today. He's the author of several books, including Remaking the World, Incomparable, God of All Things, and Echoes of Exodus. You can follow him on Twitter.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Why do so many Christians and evangelicals in particular love C.S. Lewis so much? What is it about him that transcends borders of culture and denominational and theological tribes? Today's guest is historian Mark Noll. Mark and Travis talk about C.S. Lewis and his reception by Americans in the early to mid part of the 20th century. Unlike any author before or since, Lewis tapped into the imagination with the truth that people could grab a hold of and understand. Join Travis and Mark as they sift through Lewis' reception by Catholics, Protestants, and the mainstream media. It's a conversation that will stimulate your faith and appreciate God working through him. Mark is one of the leading church historians in the English-speaking world. Recently retired as the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame and before that, he served as Professor of History and Theological Studies at Wheaton College. He taught courses on American religious and intellectual history, the Reformation, world Christianity, and Canadian history. Dr. Noll has written and edited numerous books, most recently including Evangelicals: Who They Have Been, Are Now, and Could Be (with George Marsden and David Bebbington, Eerdmans, 2019), In the Beginning Was the Word: The Bible in American Public Life (OUP, 2015), From Every Tribe and Nation: A Historian's Discovery of the Global Christian Story (Baker Academic, 2014), Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind (Eerdmans, 2011), and Clouds of Witnesses: Christian Voices from Africa and Asia (co-written with Carolyn Nystrom, IVP, 2011). He has also served on the editorial boards for Books & Culture and Christian History and as co-editor of the Library of Religious Biography for Wm. B. Eerdmans. In 2006 he received the National Endowment for the Humanities medal at the White House. Dr. Noll currently lives in Wheaton, Illinois, with his wife, Maggie.Check out Mark's books.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

What happens if we co-opt political power for godly means? Or what if we use evil people to do good things? What if we put people in political power whose character is awful? Is that good or bad? Is it so cut and dry? Of course, there have always been evil people in political office, but the issue is not whether there are low-character people in political office, the issue is calling Christians to embrace evil people, glancing over moral issues, in order to get what they believe to be righteous results. In other words, does the end justify the means? What's at stake in all of this? Is it possible that we can win some big battles politically, but lose a greater war for the faith and its credibility? What is really going on in American evangelicalism?Joining Travis on today's show is Dr. Russell Moore, the editor-in-chief of Christianity Today to discuss his new book, "Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America." Travis and Russell discuss the status of evangelicalism in America. Is it really representative of the upside-down kingdom that Jesus is talking about? Or is it a type of Christian atheism or even, dare we say a form of Christian paganism? What does it mean to be patriotic in the midst of this? Is it possible to be patriotic and not a Christian nationalist? What is wrong with Christian nationalism anyway? These are just some of the questions they discuss on today's show as Russell guides us into the landmines of today's American evangelical landscape, helping us to see where the minefields are, but also where there is safe ground as we seek to be biblical faithful Christians, fulling the mission God has for us in this unique cultural moment. Conversations like this are meant to help encourage and equip you in your mission encounter with Western culture. Our Western culture has many great things in it, but also some unique underlying idolatries that many who are within a Western culture often miss. Dr. Moore helps us to see some of these idolatries and how many within American evangelicalism are not living out biblical Christianity, but rather destructive idolatries that are toxic to biblical faith. It's a fascinating and insightful conversation and one that will unmask idolatries you may have in order that you may forsake them and live out of the truth of the Gospel as you go about your missionary encounter with Western culture. Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Do you feel stuck? Are you frustrated that life is not working the way you thought it would? Are you angry with God because others are seemingly finding success and you aren't? Are you frustrated by your limits? What if your limits are not bad things, but good things? Have you ever wondered if your belief that you can do everything is not from God but from the devil? Have you ever wondered if God has given you limits to show something of Himself in your life? Today, we welcome Ashley Hales to the show to discuss her book, A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits. Travis and Ashley discuss the habits of hurry we have cultivated, the need for rest and rhythm, and steps that we can embrace the spacious life God has laid out for us. Learn more about Ashley. Some of the episodes referred to on today's show:#171 | Transfigure Your Imagination, Pt. 1 | Malcolm Guite#172 | Transfigure Your Imagination, Pt. 2 | Malcolm Guite#179 | The Joy Switch, Pt. 1 | Chris Coursey#180 | The Joy Switch, Pt. 2 | Chris Coursey#181 | The Evangelical Imagination, Pt. 1 | Karen Swallow Prior#182 | The Evangelical Imagination, Pt. 2 | Karen Swallow PriorSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Do you know the biblical story? What role does the Kingdom of God play in that story? How has the modern church in America become culturally irrelevant? What is the modern Western story and how does it absorb many of our salvation stories? And what is the Gospel? These are just some of the questions that Mike and Travis talk about today. Dr. Goheen, drawing on the work of Lesslie Newbigin, takes us into the heart of Western culture showing us that while the Western culture has brought many advances, it has also brought many dangers that are a threat to the propagation of the Christian faith. You will learn more about how we got to his place of having a secular society, the myth of objective secularism, and be able to identify many of the idolatries at work in the West and in the church. Mike also gives us a vision of the story of God's already/but not yet doctrine of the kingdom and our salvation. All of this and more can be found in Mike's book, The Church and Its Vocation: Lesslie Newbigin's Doctrine of Ecclesiology (Baker, 2018).Dr. Mike Goheen began his professional life as a church planter in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and pastor in the Toronto area. Then, for over two decades, he taught worldview studies, biblical theology, and missiology at Dordt College, Redeemer University College, Trinity Western University, Regent College, and Calvin Theological Seminary. For most of that time, he has held part-time pastoral and preaching positions in local congregations. Presently, he splits his time between Vancouver, Canada, and Phoenix, Arizona, where he directs the theological education program at the Missional Training Center (MTC). He also serves as scholar-in-residence for Surge Network of churches in Phoenix.Mike has authored, co-authored, or edited twelve books, including Introducing Christian Mission Today: Scripture, History, and Issues (IVP, 2014), and A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story (Baker, 2011). He spends time each year in Brazil, Chile, and Hungary training pastoral leaders.Mike has been married to Marnie since 1979. They have four married children and eleven grandchildren.Learn more about Mike and the Missional Training Center and check out his books.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

We all know that cultures such as those in India have their own pantheon of false gods that we often think of as statues, but idolatry is more than the worship of statues. And demons are not only at work in Majority World cultures. Idolatry and the demonic are just as much at work in our Western culture, they just go by more socially acceptable names. In the West, we have idols of materialism, consumerism, unbridled autonomy, technology, and the like. The demonic work through them just as much as he does through statues and witch doctors. Dr. Goheen, drawing on the work of Lesslie Newbigin, takes us into the heart of Western culture showing us that while the Western culture has brought many advances, it has also brought many dangers that are a threat to the propagation of the Christian faith. You will learn more about how we got to his place of having a secular society, the myth of objective secularism, and be able to identify many of the idolatries at work in the West and in the church. Mike also gives us a vision of the story of God's already/but not yet doctrine of the kingdom and our salvation. All of this and more can be found in Mike's book, The Church and Its Vocation: Lesslie Newbigin's Doctrine of Ecclesiology (Baker, 2018).Dr. Mike Goheen began his professional life as a church planter in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and pastor in the Toronto area. Then, for over two decades, he taught worldview studies, biblical theology, and missiology at Dordt College, Redeemer University College, Trinity Western University, Regent College, and Calvin Theological Seminary. For most of that time, he has held part-time pastoral and preaching positions in local congregations. Presently, he splits his time between Vancouver, Canada, and Phoenix, Arizona, where he directs the theological education program at the Missional Training Center (MTC). He also serves as scholar-in-residence for Surge Network of churches in Phoenix.Mike has authored, co-authored, or edited twelve books, including Introducing Christian Mission Today: Scripture, History, and Issues (IVP, 2014), and A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story (Baker, 2011). He spends time each year in Brazil, Chile, and Hungary training pastoral leaders.Mike has been married to Marnie since 1979. They have four married children and eleven grandchildren.Learn more about Mike and the Missional Training Center and check out his books.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

As we go about our missionary encounter with Western culture, we need instruction from the Scriptures. And we need to see the Scriptures from the vantage point of the audience it was written to. There have been more tears cried on the pages of the Psalms than any other book, because it is a book that instructs us about who God is, who we are, and what to do in times of crisis. In the Psalms, we are taught how to look forward to the Messiah's kingdom, how to lament, celebrate, praise, trust, and recognize God's coming King. It is one of the most mysterious books and the most encouraging books, and it can be an interpretive minefield, which is why it helps to have such a renowned Old Testament scholar like Bruce Waltke step in as our guide. Travis and Bruce discuss his most recent book which he co-authored with Fred G. Zaspel, How To Read and Understand the Psalms (Crossway, 2023). Dr. Waltke is one of the preeminent Old Testament scholars, an "ent" of Old Testament studies. He holds a doctorate in Greek and New Testament from Dallas Theological Seminary and a doctorate in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature from Harvard. His teaching career, spanning Dallas Theological Seminary, Regent College, Reformed Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Knox Theological Seminary won him a reputation of being a master teacher with a pastoral heart. Dr. Waltke also pastored several churches, lectured at many evangelical seminaries in North America and has spoken at numerous Bible conferences.He is a member of the Committee of Bible Translation of the New International Version and helped translate the New American Standard Version. He served as editor for the Theological Word Book of the Old Testament, The New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, The New Geneva Study Bible, and Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.Dr. Waltke has traveled widely as a Bible expositor, as an Area Supervisor for excavations at Gezer, Israel, and as Director of field study trips to the Middle East and the Classical World. He is married and has three grown children.Dr. Waltke has published widely in various scholarly journals and contributed to many scholarly reference volumes.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

How does social change happen? Can a movement like the Asbury Renewal spark real social change? What in our society causes movement? Is it just a changing of generations? What role does technology play? What role is Artificial Intelligence going to play? These are just some of the questions that we discussed in today's episode. Travis and Anne have a discussion of all things life: vacations, musicals, poets, generational shifts, Asbury, Comment Magazine, humanization practices, and Travis even does a little singing :-)Anne is the editor-in-chief of Comment Magazine, host of The Whole Person Revolution podcast, and co-editor of Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year. Prior to working at Comment, she worked for Laity Lodge, the H.E. Butt Foundation in Texas, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, World Affairs Journal, and the New York Times. She is a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum and a Fellow at the Urban Reform Institute.She is the author of The Fabric of Character: A Wise Giver's Guide to Renewing our Social and Moral Landscape (2019) and has been published in The Atlantic Monthly, the Washington Post, and Bittersweet Monthly. Anne spent the formative years of her childhood overseas. Upon returning to the U.S. she received her bachelor's degree from Wheaton College (IL) and a master's degree from Georgetown University. She currently lives in Washington, D.C.Anne referred to a variety of books today:Keys to Bonhoeffer's Haus: Exploring the World and Wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Laura M. Fabrycky.The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von TrappMy Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer by Christian WimanSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

What do the Beatitudes look like in a culture where politics rules in a zero-sum game? What role do the Beatitudes play in helping us with our anxiety? How do we hold this purifying vision of God in the Beatitudes in a world? Today's guest is Pastor and Theologian Chris Castaldo back to the show to discuss his new book, Upside-Down Kingdom. They discuss the Beatitudes and everyday life, but season it with all things Italy, Italian food, the Italian Reformation, and so much more. Chris is the author of Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic, Talking with Catholics About the Gospel: A Guide for Evangelicals, and co-authored more. Listen to the first part of the conversation: #204 | Living A Countercultural Life, Pt. 1 | Chris CastaldoCheck out Chris' website.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

How do we live in a culture obsessed with success? How has the Christian faith morphed from a countercultural movement to one that is obsessed with power and politics? These are questions we all wrestle with and the Bible speaks to the longings and ragings of our hearts, showing us a better way forward that seems counterintuitive, but is true. Today's guest is Pastor and Theologian Chris Castaldo back to the show to discuss his new book, Upside-Down Kingdom. They discuss the Beatitudes, and everyday life, but season it with all things Italy, Italian food, the Italian Reformation, and so much more. Chris is the author of Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic, Talking with Catholics About the Gospel: A Guide for Evangelicals, and co-authored more. Check out Chris' website.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Travis and Chris Martin continue their conversation on his new book, The Wolf in Our Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead? In this conversation, they discuss free speech, politics online, YouTubers, Facebook, the all-knowing algorithm, how these platforms are forming us, anxiety, the high school hallways, and what should and should not be posted online. It's a free-flowing conversation that helps us know the dangers of the social internet as well as how to use it in such a way that it doesn't bring you anxiety. It's a conversation that gives you some guidelines in approaching your social internet usage. Chris Martin is a content marketing editor at Moody Publishers and a social media, marketing, and communications consultant. He writes regularly in his newsletter, Terms of Service, and refers to Bibletolife.comIt's a conversation about where we all live and the challenges that the social internet brings to each one of us. Chris lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Susie, their daughter, Magnolia, and their dog, Rizzo.Check out part 1- #202 | The Wolf In Your Pocket, Pt. 1 | Chris MartinSome other episodes on technology and its effect on us:#84 | Analog Church | Jay Y. Kim#95 | Restless Devices-Countering Conformity With Ancient Christian Practices, Pt. 1 | Felicia Wu Song#96 | Restless Devices-Countering Conformity With Ancient Christian Practices, Pt. 2 | Felicia Wu Song#160 | Analog Christian | Jay Y. KimSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.God continues to grow our ministry, but He calls people like you to help do it! Support the Ministry of Apollos Watered today!

How much does social media affect you on a daily basis? How much is it threatening the people you lead? How much are they medicating themselves? What can we do about it? Chris Martin is here to help!Chris Martin is a content marketing editor at Moody Publishers and a social media, marketing, and communications consultant. He writes regularly in his newsletter, Terms of Service, and refers to Bibletolife.comTravis and Chris discuss his new book from Moody Publishers, The Wolf in Our Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead? It's a conversation about where we all live and the challenges that the social internet brings to each one of us. Chris lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Susie, their daughter, Magnolia, and their dog, Rizzo.Some other episodes on technology and its effect on us:#84 | Analog Church | Jay Y. Kim#95 | Restless Devices-Countering Conformity With Ancient Christian Practices, Pt. 1 | Felicia Wu Song#96 | Restless Devices-Countering Conformity With Ancient Christian Practices, Pt. 2 | Felicia Wu Song#160 | Analog Christian | Jay Y. KimSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.God continues to grow our ministry, but He calls people like you to help do it! Support the Ministry of Apollos Watered today!

It's part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Mark Baker. We are talking about becoming a centered-set church. What is that? Most churches are bounded or fuzzy, but its the churches that are centered that see the greatest transformation. How do we know that? Because that's what we did! The question is: are sinners welcome at your church? Yes, we call people to repentance, but when does that happen? Do you require them to behave before they belong? Believe? What's the order? Do they have to look and sound like everybody else before they are accepted? What are the standards? Who is in and who is out? Is there room for a process? What happens when someone sins? What about the person who is in sin and just starting to come to church and wants to learn? And what about the person who is considered an insider but whose personal life is a complete mess? What do we do? What is more important: believing? behaving? belonging? Which should come first? And what does that matter? Our guide in our journey today is Dr. Mark Baker. Mark is the J.B. Toews Chair Professor of Mission and Theology at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and the author of Centered-Set Church: Discipleship and Community Without Judgmentalism (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2021) Mark helps us to examine what he calls three different approaches to church. Borrowing from the missiologist Paul Hiebert, he helps us to see what is considered a "bounded set," "fuzzy set," and a "centered" set approach to church. This is a conversation about where you live in the everyday-its about how we judge and shame others, and what the best approach is to ensure flexibility with the process while honoring the purity of obedience. You can learn more at Centered-Set Church. Get the first part of the conversation: #200 | Does Your Church Allow For People In Process?, Pt. 1 | Mark BakerSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.God continues to grow our ministry, but He calls people like you to help do it! Support the Ministry of Apollos Watered today!

What does it mean to belong to your church? What are the standards? Who is in and who is out? Is there room for a process? What happens when someone sins? What about the person who is in sin and just starting to come to church and wants to learn? And what about the person who is considered an insider but whose personal life is a complete mess? What do we do? What is more important: believing? behaving? belonging? Which should come first? And what does that matter? Our guide in our journey today is Dr. Mark Baker. Mark is the J.B. Toews Chair Professor of Mission and Theology at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and the author of Centered-Set Church: Discipleship and Community Without Judgmentalism (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2021) Mark helps us to examine what he calls three different approaches to church. Borrowing from the missiologist Paul Hiebert, he helps us to see what is considered a "bounded set," "fuzzy set," and a "centered" set approach to church. This is a conversation about where you live in the everyday-its about how we judge and shame others, and what the best approach is to ensure flexibility with the process while honoring the purity of obedience. You can learn more at Centered-Set Church. Kevin also mentioned some of his favorite episodes:#105 | Prophetic Voices in Chaotic Times | Trevin Wax#117 | Defending Shame, Pt. 1 | Te-Li Lau#118 | Defending Shame, Pt. 2 | Te-Li Lau#126 | You Are Not Your Own Pt. 1 | Alan Noble#127 | You Are Not Your Own, Pt. 2 | Alan Noble#129 | Relax, You're Only Human, Pt. 1 | Kelly Kapic#131 | Relax, You're Only Human, Pt. 2 | Kelly Kapic#164 | The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Pt. 1 | Trevin Wax

How do you reduce anxiety? What can you do to relax? What does the Scripture say? What does brain science tell us? What about holy noticing and multitasking to do with it? Plenty! Travis welcomes Charles Stone to the show today. Charles has been a pastor for over 40 years serving as a Lead Pastor, Teaching Pastor, Associate Pastor, and Church planter. He has an engineering degree from Georgia Tech, a Master's of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His most recent degree is an executive master's in the neuroscience of leadership from The Neuroleadership Institute. He's completing a post-baccalaureate certificate in Therapeutic Models of Mindfulness from Wilfred Laurier University and has completed a graduate certificate in Mind, Brain, and Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. He's currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program at Columbia Biblical Seminary and is researching stress in pastors.He's been professionally trained in these areas by these organizations:Professional coaching through the Professional Christian Coaching Institute (ACC certified under the International Coaching Federation)Strategic Planning through Ministry Advantage (certified)Vision Clarity through the Church Unique Process with Auxano (certified)Conflict Management through PeacemakersBrain-Based Leadership through the Neuroleadership Institute and the Academy of Brain-Based LeadershipLearn more about Charles and get the book. If you want to learn more about neurotheology through these episodes:If you want to learn more about neurotheology check out our previous conversations:#107 | Jim Wilder, God on the Brain, Pt. 1#108 | Jim Wilder, God on the Brain, Pt. 2#109 | Michel Hendricks-Relational Reformation, Pt. 1#110 | Michel Hendricks-Relational Reformation, Pt. 2

Is Christianity in America on the decline? What does Christianity look like around the world in places like Mongolia, Italy, Oceania and the like? What are the biggest challenges facing the global Church today?Today we welcome Dr. Gina Zurlo for the second part of our conversation about Global Christianity. Dr. Zurlo holds a PhD in History and Hermeneutics from Boston University School of Theology (2017). She is the Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (South Hamilton, MA) and Visiting Research Fellow at Boston University's Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs. She is an interdisciplinary scholar, crossing between history, sociology, and World Christianity with a particular interest in women's experiences of Christianity and church life worldwide. Dr. Zurlo is the co-editor of the World Christian Database (Brill) and associate editor of the World Religion Database (Brill). She is one of the authors of the third edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia (Edinburgh University Press, 2019), which covers the history and current status of Christianity in every country of the world down to the denominational level. Travis and Dr. Zurlo discuss her newest book, Christianity Around the World, which is a popular reference work to introduce readers to the state of Christianity in every nation of the world, complete with colorful maps and graphs. They discuss the state of Christianity in America, how it is shifting, and what it means for us today. If you want to hear the first part of this conversation: #197 | What Does the Future of Christianity Look Like? Pt. 1 | Gina ZurloSome other episodes related to this episode or referred to in this episode:#30 | What God Is Doing In The World, Pt. 1 | Todd M. Johnson #32 | What God Is Doing In The World, Pt. 2 | Todd M. Johnson#69 | The Insanity of God, Pt. 1 | Nik Ripken#70 | The Insanity of God, Pt. 2 | Nik Ripken

Is Christianity in America on the decline? What does Christianity look like around the world? How many Christians are there in the world? How do sociologists quantify that? Today on Apollos Watered, we welcome Dr. Gina Zurlo to the show. Dr. Gina A. Zurlo holds a PhD in History and Hermeneutics from Boston University School of Theology (2017). She is the Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (South Hamilton, MA) and Visiting Research Fellow at Boston University's Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs. She is an interdisciplinary scholar, crossing between history, sociology, and World Christianity with a particular interest in women's experiences of Christianity and church life worldwide. Dr. Zurlo is the co-editor of the World Christian Database (Brill) and associate editor of the World Religion Database (Brill). She is one of the authors of the third edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia (Edinburgh University Press, 2019), which covers the history and current status of Christianity in every country of the world down to the denominational level. Travis and Dr. Zurlo discuss her newest book, Christianity Around the World, which is a popular reference work to introduce readers to the state of Christianity in every nation of the world, complete with colorful maps and graphs. They discuss the state of Christianity in America, how it is shifting, and what it means for us today. Some other episodes related to this episode:#30 | What God Is Doing In The World, Pt. 1 | Todd M. Johnson #32 | What God Is Doing In The World, Pt. 2 | Todd M. Johnson#103 | Reaching the Nations in Your Neighborhood | David Garrison#161 | Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save The American Church | Eric Costanzo, Daniel Yang, & Matthew SoerensSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.God continues to grow our ministry, but He calls people like you to help do it! Support the Ministry of Apollos Watered today!

How does our modern world obsessed with success jive with the New Testament world guided by the GPS of honor, patronage, kinship, and purity? What did grace really mean in the ancient world? Do we have an accurate understanding of grace the way that the audience of the first century understood it? Does grace come freely or with an obligation? If we are to fulfill the mission of God, we need to know how to apply the Scripture to our lives, and in order to do that effectively, it helps to understand the social world of the New Testament. When we do that, our understanding, appreciation, and application of Scriptural truth is expanded and strengthened, and we are able to have the Scripture speak to us in our everyday lives and where we really live. Our guide in our journey for this second conversation on the subject is New Testament and Greek scholar Dr. David DeSilva. Travis and David discuss his book, Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity: Unlocking the New Testament Culture, a book that has become a major influence in understanding the world of the New Testament and how it relates to many of our modern honor-shame cultures (cancel culture is all about honor and shame). It's a conversation that will enlighten, challenge, and encourage you to go deeper in your understanding and appreciation of the Bible and God's plan for you. If you want to listen to the first part of the conversation:#195 | Are We Living For Biblical Honor Or Worldly Success? Pt. 1 | David DeSilvaMore about honor and shame:#15 | Increase Your Vision of God and the World | Jackson Wu#26 | Misreading Scripture With Individualist Eyes | Randy Richards#34 | Rediscovering Hospitality: A Lesson from Eastern Cultures | Jayson Georges#64 | Finding Hope, Shedding Shame, Pt. 1 | Audrey Frank#65 | Finding Hope, Shedding Shame, Pt. 2 | Audrey Frank#117 | Defending Shame, Pt. 1 | Te-Li Lau#118 | Defending Shame, Pt. 2 | Te-Li LauSign up for the Apollos Watered