Faith in the Folds

Today I talk with Reverend Dr. Drew Holland, pastor of the Shaeffer's Chapel Global Methodist Church in Mississippi. Drew and I discuss his upcoming book, A Place for the Past, where he argues for the value of studying the Bible from a historical perspective.

On March 18, 2025, Brad East wrote a short but powerful post for Christianity Today in which he argued that the Church has taken too light a view of baptism for too long now. I respond to East's article here. "Baptism in Not Optional" by Brad East: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/03/baptism-is-not-optional-theology-church-salvation/

If you believe in the kind of predestination that rejects free will, I don't think you can take seriously Jesus's call to repent ... nor any other command in the New Testament.

What is the number of the Beast in Revelation 13? In today's episode I discuss the ancient practice of gematria and its relevance for uncovering one of Revelation's most intriguing mysteries.

Today I sit down with Casey Coston, Campus Missionary for the University of Delaware, with Blue Hens for Christ. Casey has been in campus ministry for 20 years, and he talks with me about how God has worked on him through the years to make him who God wants him to be. You can find out more about Casey and his new book Made Competent here: https://www.reflectmissions.org/made-competent

Alex Bernardo of The Protestant Libertarian Podcast joins us again, this time to talk about the inherent similarities of Christian Nationalism and Progressive Christianity. Check out his insightful article from the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com/2023/10/09/progressive-christian-nationalism-left-right-authoritarian/

The podcast has been mostly dormant for a few months because we moved out of state and I started a new career. But now we're back! Today I share the twenty-year journey of how I got my dream job of teaching college Bible.

Today I had the great pleasure of talking with one of my favorite YouTubers, Sam of the channel Master Samwise. He is an insightful film and TV critic, and has created several video essays on the virtuous masculinity of some of my favorite fictional characters: Aragorn and Samwise Gamgee of The Lord of the Rings and Iroh of the Fire Nation from Avatar: The Last Airbender. You can find Master Samwise's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@master_samwise And check out this one on General Iroh: https://youtu.be/IzINu0wezWU?si=8qDO-oYY1Fp3DruJ We referenced this video early on in the interview: Why Men Need Male Heroes: https://youtu.be/DkKcc-71fIU?si=vWYi3CQQ61wQglxC

Dr. Steve Cloer joins me today to talk about a new and exciting Memphis-based venture with Harding University, the Center for Church and City Engagement. Steve's extensive urban ministry experience and his work with Harding School of Theology's Doctor of Ministry program provide the ideal combination for raising the next generation of city-based ministry.

Do the gospels really contradict each other? What does it mean for the Bible to be "inspired"? Michael Licona joins me again on the podcast to talk about these issues and his new book Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Story Differently (Zondervan Academic, 2024). You can find Mike's personal ministry Risen Jesus here: https://www.risenjesus.com/ Mike's new book Jesus, Contradicted is available from Zondervan Academic: https://zondervanacademic.com/products/jesus-contradicted Or you can find Mike's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0darIKx

Joining me again on the podcast is Smith Hopkins, a longtime friend and a church planter in the University district of Memphis, Tennessee. Smith works with Oikos Church, a church plant in partnership with Highland Church of Christ in Cordova, TN (greater Memphis area). Smith and I talk about the challenges of church planting in an urban area, and what he has learned in almost three years of working with a church plant. It was a joy to catch up with Smith and to hear about the good things God is doing with Oikos. You can find more about Oikos Church here: https://www.oikosmemphis.org/

Joining me on the podcast is Dr. Benjamin Shaw, President of CORE Apologetics and Adjunct Professor for Liberty University and Colorado Christian University. Today Ben and I talk about his interest and work in apologetics, a Christian ministry dedicated to helping others find meaningful answers to their questions about faith, God, Jesus, evil, reality, and so much more. CORE Apologetics, https://www.coreapologetics.com/ Ben has several publications to his name which are linked below. Coming July 30, 2024 from InterVarsity Press, Trustworthy: Thirteen Arguments for the Reliability of the New Testament, https://a.co/d/29ZJd1z For more of Ben's work, you can follow him and his associates here, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Benjamin-Shaw-3

In February of 2023, something extraordinary happened at Asbury University: worshippers stayed in the Hughes Auditorium, and students began to sing and pray non-stop for the next few weeks. Timothy Tennent, President of Asbury Theological Seminary, wrote of the events while they were taking place: “Several people have commented on some of the differences between these sacred days and the more well-known outpouring which took place in February of 1970. A lot has been said about the impact of social media in telling the story, or about the focus on worship. However, a deeper look at this outpouring reveals that it has the same elements which are found in any authentic revival: people repenting of their sins; people being filled with the Holy Spirit; men and women finding reconciliation with God and their neighbor; people capturing a renewed love for Jesus, the gospel and the Holy Scriptures. All of the above has been happening here day after day.” (http://timothytennent.com/thoughts-on-the-asbury-awakening/)On the one-year anniversary of the 2023 #AsburyRevival, I speak with Timothy Tennent to ask him to reflect on last year's outpouring and to comment on what fruit has come in the year that followed. He spoke of many students' repentance, as well as the deep prayer life that many have developed since then.

Four years ago, an EF 4 tornado devastated the I-40 corridor from Nashville, TN and eastward. While the physical damage was largely contained to Middle Tennessee, the loss of life was felt the world over. Four year old Hattie Jo Collins passed away when the tornado swept through Cookeville, TN. In the aftermath, Matt and Macy Collins began The Magnolia Foundation, a non-profit organization for helping families who have lost children. You can find The Magnolia Foundation here: https://www.themagnoliafoundation.com

In September 2023, I had the great honor of speaking at the Neller Preachers' Workshop during Harding University's Centennial Lectureship, and today I'm sharing part one of the series of lectures I gave on the book of Colossians. The workshop is named after the late Ken Neller who served as a Professor of New Testament at Harding for many years—I took Greek 3 and 4 with him during the 2006-07 school year. My first lecture, entitled “The Supremacy of Christ,” covers Colossians 1:1-23. In this opening chapter, Paul introduces the major themes the he will develop throughout the letter: Jesus's supremacy over all as the enthroned Messiah, and the importance of the Colossians' growth in the knowledge of Jesus.

Evertt Huffard joins me on the podcast today to share his unique perspective on the conflict in #Gaza. Having grown up in #Jerusalem and later worked in #Nazareth, Evertt has spent years working with church leaders and serving churches in #Israel. From the experience, he brings a careful, compassionate, and nuanced view to the Gaza conflict, and he urges us to “resist the impulse” to lose hope for peace. You can find Evertt's article in the Christian Chronicle here: “Resist the Impulse” https://christianchronicle.org/resist-the-impulse/

Does God transform us through travel? Jeremy Daggett, missionary in Peru and director of Harding University's Latin America international program thinks so. Join me and Jeremy as we talk about "intercultural spiritual formation" through travel, and how God uses these experiences to help us grow in love for others. In our episode, Jeremy mentioned the following resources: Michael Frost's book, Surprise the World: https://mikefrost.net/books/surprise-the-world/ Jonathan Sacks's book, The Dignity of Difference: https://www.rabbisacks.org/books/the-dignity-of-difference/ Willie James Jennings's commentary on Acts: https://a.co/d/dL7Syl5

Today's episode is part two of my conversation with Alex Bernardo, host of the Protestant Libertarian Podcast. In this episode, I've asked Alex about three specific things libertarians believe: 1) Libertarians say things like “Taxation is theft.” How is it theft? Aren't taxes the price we pay for living in a civilized society? 2) Drugs hurt people, so why do libertarians want drugs to be legal? 3) Bad people do bad things in other parts of the world. Why shouldn't the US intervene? I also asked Alex about some entry-level resources for anyone interested to hear more about this political and economic philosophy. He mentioned: Alex's Protestant Libertarian Podcast: https://libertarianchristians.com/shows/protestant-libertarian-podcast/ The Libertarian Christian Institute has an extensive collection of articles, podcasts, and other resources to peruse: https://libertarianchristians.com/ Alex also mentioned Reason Magazine, the Mises Institute, and AntiWar.com as other places for gaining a variety of libertarian perspectives on different issues.

Today on the podcast I interview Alex Bernardo, host of the Protestant Libertarian Podcast. In this first of a two-part conversation, Alex and I talk about how he became a libertarian (it might have something to do with him being a public school teacher), what is libertarianism, and does libertarianism have any biblical basis. We talked candidly and honestly, and I hope you come away from our conversation feeling inspired to dig more deeply into your own beliefs about politics. Alex mentioned a few resources in our discussion. Alex's Protestant Libertarian Podcast: https://libertarianchristians.com/shows/protestant-libertarian-podcast/ The Libertarian Christian Institute has an extensive collection of articles, podcasts, and other resources to peruse: https://libertarianchristians.com/ Alex also mentioned Reason Magazine, the Mises Institute, and AntiWar.com as other places for gaining a variety of libertarian perspectives on different issues.

Joining me on the podcast is Luke Dockery, Youth In Family Minister for the Cloverdale Church of Christ in Searcy, AR, and John David Alston, Youth Minister for the Kings Crossing Church of Christ in Corpus Christi, TX. Today we talk about some highlights of Harding University's Centennial Lectureship, which lectures we liked the most, and why we love going to lectureship.

Today I sit down with Matthew Bates, professor of Theology at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois to discuss two of his more recent books, Why the Gospel? Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose, and Salvation By Allegiance Alone: Rethinking Faith, Works, and the Gospel of Jesus the King. Bates has argued convincingly that “faith” in the New Testament means much more than “belief,” and that what God calls us to better described as fidelity, faithfulness, and allegiance. He also shares with me the intriguing idea of how God graciously shares his glory with humans–and that our salvation involves spreading God's glory throughout creation. You can keep with Dr. Bates at his website: https://matthewwbates.com/index.php

Today I catch up with one of my favorite New Testament scholars, Constantine Campbell. Con has written two books this, an excellent commentary on Ephesians, and a provocative book on the problems facing American evangelicalism. In our interview, we discuss how the spiritual worldview of the #Bible informs both the issues which faced the Ephesians during Paul's time as well as politically interested Christians today. You can check out Con's work at his website: https://www.constantinecampbell.info/. And you can order his newest books from Amazon: The Letter to the Ephesians: https://www.amazon.com/Letter-Ephesians-Pillar-Testament-Commentary/dp/0802875858/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FPB066B2OZH8&keywords=campbell+ephesians&qid=1683491394&sprefix=campbell+ephesians%2Caps%2C388&sr=8-1 Jesus v. Evangelicals: A Biblical Critique of a Wayward Movement: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-v-Evangelicals-Biblical-Critique/dp/0310135443/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3M3UOQGFSDJPE&keywords=jesus+v.+evangelicals+a+biblical+critique+of+a+wayward+movement&qid=1696347799&sprefix=jesus+v.+evangelicals%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Joining me on the podcast today is Joy Vaughan (PhD, Asbury Theological Seminary) Assistant Professor of New Testament at Asbury University in Wilmore, KY. I'm excited to talk with Joy about her new book, Phenomenal Phenomena: Biblical and Multicultural Accounts of Spirits and Exorcism. In the wake of the Asbury Outpouring (February-March, 2023), Joy says she has noticed a dramatic interest in understanding the spiritual worldview of the Bible, and with her background and training in the world of the New Testament, she is the ideal person to talk with about this fascinating and very relevant topic. You can find Joy's book here: https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481318365/phenomenal-phenomena/

Joining me today is Justin Brierley, #Christian author, speaker, and broadcaster. Justin has hosted many of Justin is a longtime radio and podcast host who has interviewed many of Europe's and North America's leading intellectuals in conversations about the intersection of #religion, #science, #culture, #society, and #politics. In 2017 he wrote Unbelievable?: Why After Ten Years of Talking with Atheists, I'm still a Christian, in which he tackled many of the claims of new #atheism. Part of our conversation today will deal with his new book coming out later this year, The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers are Considering Christianity Again, which is available for pre-order at http://justinbrierley.com.

Over the last year various news and ministry outlets have reported on an acute shortage of preachers and ministers in Churches of Christ. It seems social and political angst may be a factor, as well as certain trends among many Churches of Christ. In today's episode I discuss some reasons for this minister shortage and I offer a few tentative suggestions for how we can address this growing problem. To find the articles I mention in the episode, following these links: Carson Reed, "Ministers in Short Supply": https://www.mosaicsite.org/main/2022/5/24/ministers-in-short-supply Bobby Ross, "Editorial: Who's to blame for preacher shortage in Churches of Christ? We are": https://christianchronicle.org/editorial-whos-to-blame-for-the-preacher-shortage-in-churches-of-christ-we-are/ Luke Dockery, "Raising Up Ministers: Six Unhelpful Trends in Churches of Christ": https://lukedockery.com/2023/03/02/raising-up-ministers-six-unhelpful-trends-in-churches-of-christ/

Over the last year various news and ministry outlets have reported on an acute shortage of preachers and ministers in Churches of Christ. It seems social and political angst may be a factor, as well as certain trends among many Churches of Christ. In today's episode I discuss some reasons for this minister shortage and I offer a few tentative suggestions for how we can address this growing problem. To find the articles I mention in the episode, following these links:Carson Reed, "Ministers in Short Supply": https://www.mosaicsite.org/main/2022/5/24/ministers-in-short-supply Bobby Ross, "Editorial: Who's to blame for preacher shortage in Churches of Christ? We are": https://christianchronicle.org/editorial-whos-to-blame-for-the-preacher-shortage-in-churches-of-christ-we-are/ Luke Dockery, "Raising Up Ministers: Six Unhelpful Trends in Churches of Christ": https://lukedockery.com/2023/03/02/raising-up-ministers-six-unhelpful-trends-in-churches-of-christ/

Today's episode is part 2 of 2, and in this episode Thomas Lyons and I dig into what is really happening at the #asburyrevival. Tom has hours and hours of firsthand experience, not to mention a critical (i.e. discerning) eye for revival movements. In the first half of the episode I briefly work through the timetable of what started on February 8, 2023, and I remark on some of the criticisms that have arisen. In the second half of the episode, Tom and I discuss his and others' accounts of what is happening in Wilmore. As always, thanks for tuning in!Check out Part 1 of my interview with Tom here: https://youtu.be/tE7JxuJNsQoTom's article from Seminary Now is here: https://seminarynow.com/pages/blog?p=asbury-revival-answers-to-help-us-understandYou can find Timothy Tennent's blog post on the Asbury Awakening here: https://timothytennent.com/thoughts-on-the-asbury-awakening/#asburyrevival #asburyrevival2023 #asburyawakening

On Wednesday February 8, 2023, Asbury University held morning chapel like usual. What was unusual was that chapel service didn't stop. Eyewitnesses say students lingered, the band continued playing, and they haven't stopped a week and a half later. What began as a regular weekly gathering has turned into something garnering international attention and being called a "revival," an "outpouring," or an "awakening" by those most closely associated. Today we're joined by Thomas Lyons, Director of Library Services and Educational Technology, and a professor in the New Testament department at Northern Seminary in the Chicago area wrote his dissertation on revival movements in the 20th century. Tom has a critical eye for understanding these kinds of events and the reported phenomena, and I wanted to talk with him to hear his firsthand experiences with what's going on in Wilmore, Kentucky. Check out Tom's blog post on Seminary Now about the 2023 Asbury Revival: https://seminarynow.com/pages/blog?p=asbury-revival-answers-to-help-us-understand #asburyrevival #asburyrevival2023 #asburyawakening

Matt Love is one of my favorite young preachers. So, in December 2022 when I saw a certain Facebook post of his going around I knew it would be good. Matt joins us on the podcast today to share his list of five ways churches and #church members can better support those who minister to them. For preachers and any kind of #minister, Matt's words are comforting and encouraging. Check out Matt's list here: https://www.facebook.com/matthew.d.love.3/posts/pfbid02Ga962yqJTkBMbzMUdUbfb4gpcfJ6z36vSAL9KGhGhL9ruF94dE1kepJ84tsQpbZUlYou can find more of Matt's sermons and classes here: https://www.facebook.com/beebecoc/

What is Christian Nationalism, and why is it attractive to so many today? Is it really “Christian,” or a dangerous mixture of politics and religion? Join me and guest Wes McAdams as we discuss #Christian #Nationalism, how it is different from #patriotism, and how Christians today should view the use of political power for creating more just societies. Wes McAdams is the preaching minister for the Church of Christ on McDermott Road in Plano, TX. You can find more about his church here: https://www.ccmcdermott.org/ Wes also runs a successful Christian resource website called “Radically Christian.” You can find links to Wes's blog posts, podcasts, and books here: https://radicallychristian.com/

Today on the podcast I'm joined by John Nichols and Matt Collins of the Collegeside Church of Christ in #Cookeville, TN. Both John and Matt grew up in middle Tennessee churches which dedicated specific times and opportunities for training young people to grow their gifts of teaching, preaching, and sharing the gospel. Earlier this year they both sensed a strong need to offer something like this at Collegeside and out of this cooperation came Proclaim #Ministry Camp. What John and Matt shared is a beautiful testimony to how God works through churches to build and grow His #church. You can find more about Collegeside Church of Christ here: https://collegeside.org

Today I welcome back Ross Harriman, my favorite #Tolkien expert and a budding scholar on resurrection in the New Testament. In this episode which was recorded right before Halloween, we delve into the world of Bible and the worlds of our favorite #fantasy series like Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter to talk about how #magic operates in these worlds, and to see how it differs from magic in the biblical worldview.

Today on the podcast I share an older lecture of mine entitled “The Ghost with the Most: Demon Possession and Holy Spirit Indwelling in Luke-Acts.” In May 2018 I have the privilege to speak at Pepperdine University's Bible lectureship, and the theme for that year was the Holy Spirit. The #church where I grew up did not hold a restrictive view of the Holy #Spirit, but neither do I remember us talking much about what the Spirit could do. In this lecture I wanted to explore what Scripture says about the different kinds of spiritual interactions humans can experience.

Today I'm joined by two preachers who joined forces with three others from #Nashville to participate in one of the most exciting and beautiful multi #church ventures in a long time. Christopher Jackson of the Jackson Street Church of Christ and Patterson Morgan of the Antioch Church of Christ sit down with me to talk about this momentous experience which, in my opinion, can genuinely be called a movement among Churches of Christ. I know you'll be blessed by the Spirit-led unity on display as Chris and Patterson discuss how God is working through these churches to become “Greater Together.”See the excellent write-up about this event in The Christian Chronicle by Bobby Ross, Jr.: https://christianchronicle.org/how-five-nashville-churches-came-together/ You can find more about each congregation and their preaching ministers at the links below:Patterson Morgan, Antioch Church of Christ: https://antiochcofc.org/ Christopher Jackson, Jackson St Church of Christ: https://www.jacksonst.org/ Joshua Jackson, Rural Hill Church of Christ: http://www.ruralhill.org/ Aaron Tremblay, Smyrna Church of Christ: https://smyrnachurchofchrist.org/ Mark Adams, Tusculum Church of Christ: https://tusculum.org/

In July of 2022 I posed the question on Facebook, "When a #preacher (specifically during the #sermon) makes a point from a #Hebrew or #Greek word, have you found that information helpful and informative, or distracting and unnecessary?" The comments in the video are pulled from that Facebook post, and in this video we cover the good, the bad, and the ugly of using biblical languages in sermons.

Today I sit down with Dr. Candice McQueen, President of Lipscomb University, to discuss the current state of #Christian higher education. With #church membership and religious affiliation falling steadily over the last few decades, I wanted to ask Dr. McQueen how this trend is affecting Christian universities, and how those schools particularly affiliated with Churches of Christ are doing. Despite some negative trends in church growth, Dr. McQueen paints a hopeful picture that highlights the good work #Lipscomb and other Christian universities are doing to show students their calling and, more importantly, to introduce them to God the Caller who gives them true purpose and meaning in their vocations. You can find more about Dr. McQueen here: https://www.lipscomb.edu/president/18/biography For more information about Lipscomb University: https://www.lipscomb.edu/

Today I sit down Dr. A. J. Swoboda, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and World Christianity at Bushnell University in Eugene, OR. I was first introduced to Dr. Swoboda through a recommendation for his book, After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith without Losing It. I read through his book and used it for a Wednesday PM Bible study, and loved it. His earnestness in dealing with the issues of #faith #deconstruction while remaining connected to a #church were a breath of fresh air, and his even-handed approach leaves readers feeling both comforted and convicted. To contact Dr. Swoboda, you can find his faculty page here: https://www.bushnell.edu/faculty/a-j-swoboda/For more information on Swoboda's books, see: https://www.ajswobodawrites.com/

In May of 2022, Dr. Carson Reed (Siburt Institute for Church Ministry, Abilene Christian University) penned a short but important article highlighting a growing problem facing many churches in America today: the shortage of ministers working in congregational settings. Today I sit down with Carson to ask him how this trend began, what can be done about it at the congregational level, and how can churches and Christian colleges work together to address this dire issue. #church #ministry #Americanchurch “Ministers in Short Supply”: https://www.mosaicsite.org/main/2022/5/24/ministers-in-short-supply Dr. Carson Reed's faculty page: https://acu.edu/faculty/carson-reed/ Siburt Institute for Church Ministry: https://www.siburtinstitute.org/

In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment granted a woman the fundamental right to privacy, which included her right to an abortion. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, stating that the right to an abortion was not inherent to the due process clause. Christian reactions to Dobbs have been mixed, and to help us bring some clarity and historic context to the discussion, I sat down with Keith Stanglin of the Center for Christian Studies based in Austin, TX. Dr. Stanglin is a church historian and ethicist, and has recently published a very accessible and engaging book entitled Ethics Beyond Rules: How Christ's Call to Love Informs Our Moral Choices (Zondervan, 2021) in which he offers a compelling #Christian perspective on #abortion. I greatly appreciated his insight and pastoral approach to this difficult and divisive topic. You can find more from Keith at the Center for Christian Studies website: https://www.christian-studies.org.

Today I sit down with Reverend Dr. Drew Holland, Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the #UniversityOfTennessee Southern. Drew and I first met in 2014 when we began Asbury's doctoral program, and we became fast friends given our mutual support for the same college football team. Given his expertise in the #OldTestament and his time as a minister, I wanted to ask him about the joys and struggles of teaching Bible and Religion at a public university, and what what he thinks churches can do to reach this generation of young adults.

Today's episode is the conclusion of our series on the #NewTestament, and I couldn't think of a better guest than Dr. Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Gorman has written nearly twenty books on the New Testament, the letters of Paul, and #Revelation. His book Reading Revelation Responsibly is a favorite among teachers and ministers alike, and for this reason I wanted to talk with him about what exactly the book of Revelation is.You can find most of Dr. Gorman's book on his Amazon author's page: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-J.-Gorman/e/B001JP7N0K%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Today I sat down with Dr. Constantine Campbell, Honorary Research Associate of the Sydney College of Divinity. Con has been teaching for almost 15 years and has written extensively on the theology Paul, the letters of #John, and various aspects of Greek grammar. In addition to his scholarly works, Con has several video teaching guides that are perfect for church audiences. We had a great time talking about the contributions John's letters make to the #NewTestament, and I was particularly drawn to the theory that 2 John serves as a cover letter of sorts to the Johannine #epistles. For more information about Con Campbell, check out his website: https://www.constantinecampbell.info You can find links to several of his books here: https://www.constantinecampbell.info/writing

Today I sit down with Dr. Rob O'Lynn, Dean of the School Of Distance and General Education, Director of Graduate Bible Programs, and Associate Professor of Preaching and Ministry at Kentucky Christian University; he is also Affiliate Associate Professor of Preaching at Fuller Seminary and is the Senior Minister at Beech Street Christian Church in Ashland, KY. Rob has published articles in Christianity Today, Christian Education Journal, International Journal of Homiletics, Restoration Quarterly, and others, and is a fellow Harding alumnus. Rob's expertise in preaching from the whole Bible makes him an ideal conversation partner on two of the more underrated books in the New Testament, 2 Peter and Jude. Although generally ignored, Rob shows us how these books are still very relevant for the church today. You can find one of Rob's articles in Christianity Today here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2018/april-web-exclusives/share-load-your-small-congregation.html You can find Rob's book, Practicing Presence, here: https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Presence-Theory-Practice-Pastoral/dp/1490863192/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1S346I4Y9UVIC&keywords=rob+o%27lynn&qid=1648823309&sprefix=rob+o%27lynn+%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-1

Today I sat down with Reverend Dr. Dennis Edwards, Associate Professor of New Testament at North Park University in Chicago. Dr. Edwards and I talked about 1st Peter, strangely one of the more neglected books of the New Testament, but as it turns out this short letter is one of the most relevant for the #Church today: Peter deals with #persecution, households, and how Christians should respond to worldly #power. We had a great time talking about all these issues and more!You can find Dr. Edwards' commentary on 1 Peter here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VEYI3S2/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1 Dr. Edwards has also written Might from the Margins: The Gospel's Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085PZVS7D/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i2 His short guide to the Bible is also helpful: What Is the Bible and How Do We Understand It? https://www.amazon.com/What-Bible-How-Understand-Jesus/dp/1513805649/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Today I sit down with Dr. Ruth Anne Reese, Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary where she also serves as the Chair of the New Testament Department. Dr. Reese is a perennial favorite among graduate and post-graduate students at Asbury, excelling at teaching both the technical knowledge inherent to studying the #NewTestament as well as being sensitive to the pastoral issues that arise in the NT. Reese is an expert on the General Epistles, and has written commentaries on 1--2 Peter and Jude (both available on Amazon), and serves on the board of the highly esteemed Institute for Biblical Research. We had a delightful time talking about one of my favorite books of the NT, the letter from #James to Jewish believers in Jesus.

Today I sit down with Dr. Ben Witherington, III, Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. Ben has written over 60 books, numerous articles, he has led several tours to the lands mentioned in the Bible, and has appeared on dozens of television programs on PBS, CNN, and the BBC to discuss topics like Easter, the historical Jesus, and even Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with one of my doctoral professors about a book many Christians don't really know much about, the letter? sermon? homily? to the Hebrews. You can follow Dr. Witherington on his Patheos blog: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/bibleandculture/ Dr. Witherington's many academic and popular level books can be found on his Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Witherington/e/B000AP60HW?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

Today I sit down with Dr. Shawn Craigmiles, Assistant Professor of Bible and Church Ministry at Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida. Shawn and I overlapped a few years at Asbury Seminary where we both completed our PhDs in New Testament. Shawn pastored at various churches in Illinois and Kentucky before beginning a teaching career in 2018. Shawn is an excellent teacher, a great communicator, and has a pastoral warmth about him that makes him an ideal candidate to talk about three of Paul's lesser known letters, 1–2 Timothy and Titus, a collection also known as the Pastoral Epistles.

Today I sat down with Dr. Nijay Gupta, professor of #NewTestament at Northern Seminary. Dr. Gupta is known for his work on Christian formation and the life and writings of the apostle #Paul. He has written commentaries on #Philippians, Colossians, 1—2 Thessalonians, and other works on the concepts of worship and sin in Paul's thought, as well as on the Sermon on the Mount and general New Testament studies. Check out his New Testament Commentary Guide which helpfully directs students and others interested persons navigate the potentially overwhelming mass of commentaries on the NT. I was so thankful to Dr. Gupta for being able to talk with me about one of my favorite books of the Bible, Paul's short letter to the Philippians. If you'd like to contact Nijay at Northern Seminary: https://www.seminary.edu/faculty/dr-nijay-gupta/ Check out Nijay's blog, Crux Sola, on Patheos: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/cruxsola/ You can find many of Nijay's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nijay-K.-Gupta/e/B004I4TYLA%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Today I sat down with Dr. Lynn Cohick, Provost and Dean of Academic Affairs at Northern Seminary in Illinois. Dr. Cohick has taught in different venues across the globe for decades, she is an expert on #women in the world of the early church, and she has recently written a wonderful commentary on one of my favorite books of the Bible, Paul's letter to the #Ephesians. I had a delightful time meeting and talking with Dr. Cohick about this short but powerful letter, and I hope you are blessed by what she has to say. Dr. Cohick's personal website is http://lynncohick.com. You can find more information about Dr. Cohick's from Northern Seminary: https://www.seminary.edu/faculty/lynn-cohick-2/ You can also find several of her books here: https://www.amazon.com/Lynn-H-Cohick/e/B001JSCKP0?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1643939858&sr=8-1

Today I'm joined by Dr. Fred Long, professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary. Fred is an expert in 2 Corinthians, having written extensively on the grammar and rhetoric of the letter. I was delighted to catch up with Fred and to talk with him about 2 Corinthians since this is one of Paul's letters I know relatively little about.

Today I sit down with Dr. Richard Oster, professor of New Testament at Harding School of Theology. Dr. Oster is one of my all time favorite professors, and offered some of the most challenging courses I've ever taken. He is an internationally acclaimed expert on the archaeology of the city of Ephesus, and has also published various articles on 1 Corinthians as well as a commentary. I really appreciated Dr. Oster's emphasis on #Paul as a #missionary to #Corinth and how we must keep that in mind as we read his letters.