EFCA Theology Podcast

Greg Strand joins Hans Madueme, associate professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, to debrief the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference, and unpack Hans' plenary message from the conference ("A Theological Meditation on Sin and Freedom: Justification, Concupiscence and the Quest for Godliness") and why it matters to the local church.Watch (or listen to) Hans' full message from the 2025 Theology Conference here.For further reading:You're Only Human by Kelly M. KapicRuined Sinners to Reclaim: Sin and Depravity in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective (The Doctrines of Grace) edited by David Gibson and Jonathan GibsonPride: Identity and the Worship of Self by Matthew RobertsEmbodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World by Gregg R. Allison

From the breakout sessions of the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference, ⁠Professor Jason Thacker⁠ leads a session on "Theological Anthropology, the Human Person and Ethics-Bioethics," addressing the questions:What are the dangers of a developmental account of personhood?What impact does that have for what it means for beginning- and end-of-life issues?

From the breakout sessions of the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Donald Fairbairn⁠ leads a session on "Theological Anthropology, Gnosticism and the Early Church," addressing the questions:What was the threat of Gnosticism?How did the Church respond?What similarities are there today?What lessons can we learn?

From the breakout sessions of the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. David Pao leads a session on "Theological Anthropology and Paul's Theology of the Body," addressing the questions:Why does Paul ground his moral teaching in the body?What is its significance for the Corinthians and for us?

From the breakout sessions of the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference,  Dr. Steven Bryan⁠ leads a session on "Theological Anthropology and Humanity's Unified Diversity," addressing the questions:What is the ground of our unity?How is that manifested in our diversity?How do we reflect our heavenly citizenship?

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Miguel Núñez delivers his message, "Theological Anthropology, the Christian, the Church and Catechesis," addressing the questions:How do we respond?Where do we go?

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference,  Professor Jason Thacker⁠ delivers his message, "Theological Anthropology, Artificial Intelligence, Transhumanism and Posthumanism," addressing the questions:Is God's "very good" creation to be enhanced?If so, what ways reflect creaturely dependency? What ways destroy it?

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference,  Dr. John Kilner⁠ delivers his message, "Theological Anthropology, Creaturely Limitations and Disability," addressing the questions: What does it mean to be created in the imago Dei and live with limitations that are part of the creaturely "very good" pronounced by God? What are the implications to those limitations due to the Fall?

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference, ⁠Dr. Hans Madueme⁠ delivers his message, "A Theological Meditation on Sin and Freedom: Justification, Concupiscence, & the Quest for Godliness," addressing the questions:What does it mean to be created and dependent?How are will and personal agency affirmed and affected (consider expressive individualism)?What does it mean to be sinner and saint?

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference, ⁠Dr. Michael Wilkinson⁠ delivers his message, "Theological Anthropology and Christology," addressing the question:How does Jesus define what it means to be human?

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Daniel Treier delivers his message, "Theological Anthropology, the Imago Dei and the Third Millennium," addressing the question:How did we get here?

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference, Greg Strand, EFCA executive director of theology and credentialing, introduces the conference theme of "Theological Anthropology: God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Desde la Preconferencia en Español de Teológica de la EFCA 2025, el ⁠Dr. Miguel Núñez⁠ desentraña cómo se necesita crecer para liderar el cambio en la parte 3 de su mensaje, "El Pastor y el Carácter Moral, Llamando y Creciendo para Liderar el Cambio."

Desde la Preconferencia en Español de Teológica de la EFCA 2025, el ⁠Dr. Miguel Núñez⁠ desentraña el pastor y su llamado en la parte 2 de su mensaje, "El Pastor y el Carácter Moral, Llamando y Creciendo para Liderar el Cambio."

Desde la Preconferencia en Español de Teológica de la EFCA 2025, el Dr. Miguel Núñez desentraña el carácter moral de un pastor/líder en la parte 1 de su mensaje, "El Pastor y el Carácter Moral, Llamando y Creciendo para Liderar el Cambio."

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Preconference, ⁠Dr. Donald Fairbairn⁠ unpacks what it means to be a Nicene Free Church today in part 3 of his message, "Nicaea and the Nicene Creed: 1700th Anniversary."

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Preconference, Dr. Donald Fairbairn unpacks the content and significance of the Nicene Creed in part 2 of his message, "Nicaea and the Nicene Creed: 1700th Anniversary."

From the 2025 EFCA Theology Preconference, Dr. Donald Fairbairn unpacks the background to the Nicene Creed in part 1 of his message, "Nicaea and the Nicene Creed: 1700th Anniversary."

Greg Strand joins Joey Woestman, pastor of Faith Church (EFCA) in Indianapolis, Indiana, to discuss the topic of theological anthropology, why it matters to the local church and the value of exploring this topic further at the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference. Register for the 2025 EFCA Theology Conference at www.efca.org/theologyconference.

Greg Strand sits down with the results from the 2023 EFCA Doctrinal Survey, which reflect EFCA churches' unwavering commitment to the inerrancy, infallibility, authority and sufficiency of the Scriptures. Link to the full 2023 EFCA Doctrinal Survey questions and results: https://helps.efca.org/bundles/efca-doctrinal-surveys

From the breakout sessions of the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Robert Yarbrough leads a session on "Complementarian Ekklesiai and Congregational Order and Ardor."

From the breakout sessions of the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Rev. Nick Stumbo leads a session on "Pornography: Soul-Shriveling and Relationship Ruining."

From the breakout sessions of the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Nate Brooks leads a session on "Responding Wisely to Domestic Abuse."

From the breakout sessions of the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Matthew Eppinette leads a session on "Family Planning: The Blessing of Children, Birth Control and Infertility."

From the breakout sessions of the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. James R. Newheiser, Jr leads a session on "6 Keys to Preserving and Strengthening Marriage."

From the breakout sessions of the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Jonathan Leeman leads a session on "Authority: God's Deisgn for Flourishing in a Fallen-Though-Redeemed-Not-Yet-Glorified Life Together."

From the 2024 EFCA Theology Preconference, Jonathan Leeman delivers his second message on "What is the Proper Role of the Church as it Relates to the State?"

From the 2024 EFCA Theology Preconference, Jonathan Leeman delivers his first message on "What is the Proper Role of the Church as it Relates to the State?"

From the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn delivers his message on "Marriage: A Picture of God's Design and a Manifestation of the Gospel."

From the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Barry N. Danylak delivers his message on "Singleness: Signposts of the New Creation."

From the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Nate Brooks delivers his message on "Marital Abuse: A Picture of Satan's Design and a Manifestation of the Anti Gospel."

From the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. James R. Newheiser, Jr delivers his message on "Divorce and Remarriage: Exceptions to the Permanency of Marriage."

From the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Robert Yarbrough delivers his message on "Marriage: A Biblical and Theological Understanding of God's Good Design."

From the 2024 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. David J. Ayers delivers his message on "The State of Marriage and the Family: Changes and Challenges."

Greg Strand joins Kevin Kompelien, EFCA president, and Carlton Harris, executive vice president of ReachNational ministries, to talk about the document, “Where We Stand in the EFCA: Denials and Affirmations.” They discuss the response they received after President Kompelien delivered the declaration at EFCA One, how they've seen pastors and leaders use the document and the overall significance of the document for the movement.

Greg Strand talks with two EFCA district superintendents, Tim Jacobs of EFCA West and Sam Huggard of the New England District, to discuss cultural tensions at the local church level, why the document “Where We Stand in the EFCA: Denials and Affirmations” was needed in this moment and how they've used it as a discipling and ministry tool.

Bill Riedel (EFCA board of directors chair) and Dave Linde (EFCA board of ministerial standing chair) join Greg Strand (EFCA executive director of theology and credentialing) to discuss the declaration, “Where We Stand in the EFCA: Denials and Affirmations." They unpack the context and motivation behind writing the document, the vital role of the boards in the EFCA, how they have appreciated and used the declaration, how it can help bring unity in times of division and how it can help pastors shepherd their churches well in this day of cultural change, tethered to the text of Scripture and grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Greg Strand talks with Bill Kynes about the cultural landscape and engaging cultural issues, the beauty of the gospel in a fractured world, how to foster meaningful dialogue in the Church, emphasizing King Jesus in a heightened political climate and why the EFCA released the document “Where We Stand in the EFCA: Denials and Affirmations." Visit efca.org.

Dr. Adonis Vidu, Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Theology at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, teaches on the EFCA Statement of Faith, Article 1: God. He examines what it means for God to be the creator of all things at the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference.

Derek Rishmawy, Reformed University Fellowship Campus Minister (UC-Irvine) and PhD Candidate (TEDS), teaches on the EFCA Statement of Faith, Article 1: God. He shares about God's holiness at the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference.

Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology at TEDS, teaches about God's sovereignty (EFCA Statement of Faith, Article 1: God)—"limitless knowledge and sovereign power [and] has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new" at the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference.

In his breakout session at the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference, Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer examines what it means to read a culture and how pastors can thoughtfully engage with and exegete the culture in which we live.

Bill Kynes introduces the topic "God is Love" for a panel discussion with Fred Sanders, Derek Rishmawy and Adonis Vidu at the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference.

Dr. Steven Duby, associate professor of theology at Phoenix Seminary in Scottsdale, Arizona, teaches on the EFCA Statement of Faith, Article 1: God. He teaches about the triune nature of God at the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference.

Dr. Fred Sanders, professor at Torrey Honors College, Biola University in La Mirada, California, teaches on the topic, "We believe God, 'existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons," is "infinitely perfect" and has "graciously purposed" all things "for His own glory" at the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference.

Dr. Katie McCoy, director of Women's Ministry for Texas Baptists, teaches on the practical theology and missiology related to the body and human sexuality during the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference pre-conference, A Theology of the Body and Human Sexuality: God's Divine Design and "Did God Actually Say?".

Dr. Gregg Allison, professor of Christian Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, teaches the biblical and systematic theology of the body and human sexuality during the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference pre-conference, A Theology of the Body and Human Sexuality: God's Divine Design and "Did God Actually Say?".

Dr. Gavin Ortlund, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Ojai, California, teaches on the EFCA Statement of Faith, Article 1: God. He examines what it means for God to be infinitely perfect and eternally existing at the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference.

Dr. Lauris Kaldjian, professor of Internal Medicine and director of the program in bioethics and humanities at the College of Medicine, University of Iowa, teaches on the medical and ethical implications of the theology of the body and human sexuality during the 2023 EFCA Theology Conference pre-conference, A Theology of the Body and Human Sexuality: God's Divine Design and "Did God Actually Say?".

Dr. Thaddeus Williams calls Christians and churches to rise above the culture's poor argumentation and tactics when addressing each other. Reading from Isaiah, Jeremiah and Micah, he makes the Christian and biblical case for justice.

Dr. Mark Dever concludes the 2022 EFCA Theology Conference by calling us to remember the significance of the Church.