Modern Cloister

In this episode, we sit down with Todd Hains, editor, and Natasha Kennedy, illustrator, who together have shaped the creation and launch of a new children's books series called "FatCat" that aims to make the practice of catechism both accessible and engaging for children and families alike. There are three books in the series so far (Apostles' Creed, Lord's Prayer, and King of Christmas) with more to come in 2023.  About FatCat Books  How can anyone, no matter how young or old, grasp the message of the Bible? The church's answer has always been the catechism. Maybe “catechism” sounds like a scary word. But it shouldn't! The catechism teaches us what the Bible teaches us: our faith. The church's catechism is the central texts of faith—the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer. The catechism is “fat.” It's bursting at the seams with meaning, challenge, and comfort. It's concise, but it's also deep. Most importantly, it should be familiar. FatCat is a way of making the catechism approachable. And so this book has an actual fat cat hidden throughout. Search for him with your child as you enjoy this book together, and hide the words of the catechism in your heart. Learn more at the Lexham Press website.  

In this episode, we sit down with Hannah Nation, co-editor of Faith in the Wilderness: Words of Exhortation from the Chinese Church (released April 2022), to discuss both the book and the state of the Chinese house church.  ** About the book  For many Western Christians, the experience of persecution is remote. For Chinese Christians, on the other hand, suffering is a regular aspect of the Christian life. With a history of faithfulness under persecution and a rich theology of suffering, the Chinese house church movement has much to contribute theologically to the global church. In Faith in the Wilderness, editors Hannah Nation and Simon Liu pull back the curtain on the pastoral heart and eschatological hope behind the house church's remarkable faithfulness. These sermonic letters from Chinese leaders, some written under pseudonyms to protect the authors' identities, will awaken readers to the reality of the gospel—the ground of our hope—in the midst of darkness. Readers will be convicted, encouraged, and edified by the testimony of these fellow believers. Learn more about the book.  About Hannah Nation  Hannah currently serves as the Managing Director of the Center for House Church Theology and as Content Director for China Partnership. She is a graduate of Covenant College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is also the co-editor of XXX. Hannah is a frequent writer and speaker on both contemporary Chinese gospel movements and the history of women in the church, both academically and popularly. She has written for The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, Plough, byFaith, and Mere Orthodoxy, among other various platforms. Learn more at HannahNation.com. 

What do we mean when we talk about Soli Deo Gloria, or God's Glory Alone? Join us as we unpack this Sola, exploring everything from God's internal glory that existed before time and space to His manifestation and communication of that glory externally through creation, providence, and the entire redemptive narrative. We also dive into our modern culture of self glory and the implications for how this sola must reorient us as believers and foundationally shape the way we think, feel, live, serve and worship.  For a brief background on the "who, what, when, where, why and how" of the Reformation, which introduces the  Five Solas, we invite you to listen to our episode What led to the Reformation? Then, make sure to check out our conversation on Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) and Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) and Sola Fide (Faith Alone) and Solus Christus (Christ Alone).  If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

What do we mean when we talk about the doctrine of Christ Alone or "Solus Christus"? Join us as we explore this Sola, which centers on the fullness of Christ's work alone for salvation and His uniqueness as Savior. We also dive into how this belief shaped the thinking of the Reformers, how it influenced the history and development of the church, how it should impact us today as believers, and how it must be reclaimed for the sake of the gospel.  For a brief background on the "who, what, when, where, why and how" of the Reformation, which introduces the  Five Solas, we invite you to listen to our episode What led to the Reformation? Then, make sure to check out our conversation on Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) and Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) and Sola Fide (Faith Alone). If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

What is the doctrine of Sola Fide and how did it define and shape the Reformation? In this episode, we explore the  the doctrine of justification by faith alone, how this teaching and belief showed up during the Reformation, and how this "Sola" still impacts us today and needs to be reclaimed by the modern church. For a brief background on the "who, what, when, where, why and how" of the Reformation, which introduces the  Five Solas, we invite you to listen to our episode What led to the Reformation? Then, make sure to check out our conversation on the first sola, Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) and second sola, Sola Gratia (Grace Alone).  If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

What exactly is the doctrine of Sola Gratia, and how did it define and shape the Reformation? How does the "Grace Alone" sola still impact us today and how can it be recaptured and reclaimed by both believers and the modern church? In this episode, we explore the history and essential components of this sola and how it challenges our contemporary culture and world around us.  For a brief background on the "who, what, when, where, why and how" of the Reformation, which introduces the  Five Solas, listen to our episode What led to the Reformation? Then, make sure to check out our conversation on the first sola, Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone).  If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

What exactly is the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, and how did it define and shape the Reformation? How does this particular "sola" still impact us today and how can it be recaptured and reclaimed by both believers and the modern church? Join us as we explore the history and essential components of the "Scripture Alone" sola, including the concepts of inspiration, inerrancy, clarity, sufficiency and final authority of God's word.  For a brief background on the "who, what, when, where, why and how" of the Reformation, which includes a high-level introduction of the Five Solas, listen to our episode What led to the Reformation? If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

We share a brief historical tour of the Protestant Reformation that took place within the church during the 16th century. During our conversation, we walk through the "who, what, when, where, why and how" of the Reformation from a historical perspective, share a high-level introduction of the Five Solas (which were the guiding theological principles of the Reformers), and share our thoughts on why the Five Solas are just as important today as they were centuries ago - and why they need to be recaptured and reclaimed by the modern church around the world. If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we sit down with Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher, co-authors of the new book Jesus and Gender: Living as Sisters and Brothers in Christ (released April 2022) to discuss their new book and the state of gender discussions in the church.   ** About the book Much teaching on gender relations, roles, and rules binds the conscience beyond what Scripture actually teaches. Gender has become a battleground for power. But God created men and women not to compete for glory but to cooperate for his glory. In Jesus and Gender, Elyse and Eric paint a new vision for gender―Christ's gentle and lowly heart. Drawing from Scripture and experience, Elyse and Eric show how Jesus's example speaks to all areas of our lives as men and women, including vocation, marriage, parenting, friendships, and relating to each other as sisters and brothers in Christ. Real-life testimonies from a variety of Christians―including Christine Caine, Justin Holcomb, Karen Swallow Prior, and others―show a variety of men and women freed to pursue their gifts for God's glory. Learn more about Jesus and Gender. About the authors Elyse Fitzpatrick is a nationally sought-after speaker and author. She holds a certificate in biblical counseling and has an MA in biblical counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary. She has authored 23 books and lives in California with her husband, Phil. Learn more about her at elysefitzpatrick.com.  Eric Schumacher is a pastor, songwriter, and author. He earned an MDiv in Biblical and Theological Studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Eric and his wife, Jenny, have five children and live in Iowa. Learn more about him at emschumacher.com.

In this episode, we share our reactions to the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast, produced by Christianity Today, which walks listeners through the story of Mark Driscoll and Mars Hills Church. 

To celebrate the podcast's one-year anniversary, we invite you to join us for a fun, behind-the-scenes discussion about this past year, what we enjoyed, what we learned, and what's ahead in the year to come. 

In this episode, we discuss Commentaries, including their importance and history, the different types and focuses, and recommendations for what to look for and consider when getting one - especially for those who are new to the world of commentaries. This is the 3rd episode in our series on studying the Bible. Listen to the 1st here --> Studying The Bible: Translations Listen to the 2nd here --> Studying The Bible: Study Bibles ** If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our other series via the links below and listen to our introductory episode (Welcome to the Modern Cloister) to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast. A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community A Guide to Understanding the Psalms How To Use The Psalms Praise and Thanksgiving In The Psalms Lament and Confession In The Psalms Confidence and Remembrance In The Psalms Wisdom and Kingship In The Psalms Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we discuss Study Bibles, including their importance and history, the different types and focuses, and recommendations for what to look for and consider when getting a new one. This is the 2nd episode in our series on studying the Bible. Listen to the 1st here --> Studying The Bible: Translations. For expanded notes on this topic, check out Kevin's blog post On Study Bibles. ** If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our other series via the links below and listen to our introductory episode (Welcome to the Modern Cloister) to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast. A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community A Guide to Understanding the Psalms How To Use The Psalms Praise and Thanksgiving In The Psalms Lament and Confession In The Psalms Confidence and Remembrance In The Psalms Wisdom and Kingship In The Psalms Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we discuss Bible translations, including their importance and history, the differences between formal equivalent and dynamic equivalent translations, and an analysis of major translations in use today. This is the first in our three-part series on studying the Bible. For those interested in learning more and viewing the graphics mentioned in this episode, you can find Kevin's full notes on his On Bible Translations post on MondayMorningTheologian.com.  If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our other series via the links below and listen to our introductory episode (Welcome to the Modern Cloister) to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast. A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community A Guide to Understanding the Psalms How To Use The Psalms Praise and Thanksgiving In The Psalms Lament and Confession In The Psalms Confidence and Remembrance In The Psalms Wisdom and Kingship In The Psalms Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we share an update on what's been happening with the Modern Cloister podcast along with our plans for 2022. We also run through our favorite books from 2021 for anyone looking for ideas for Christmas gifts or their own reading lists for 2022.  Books mentioned in the episode: New Testament In Its World  How Shall We Worship? Worship Matters Writing Worship Reformation Anglican Worship To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism The Wisdom Pyramid How To Read the Psalms Learning To Love The Psalms The Five Solas Series: God's Word Alone The Five Solas Series: Grace Alone The Five Solas Series: Faith Alone The Five Solas Series: Christ Alone The Five Solas Series: God's Glory Alone Five Views on Inerrancy Two Views on Women in Ministry Heart of Darkness A Brief History of Time Rediscover Church LEAD On The Incarnation Evangelical Theology A Christmas Carol Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we take a closer look at wisdom and kingship psalms and the ways they have been and continue to be used by Christians and the church. This includes reading select psalms in these categories that are meaningful to us. This is the 6th and final episode in our series on the psalms.  In the 1st episode in the series, we provided an overview of the psalms, including their history, organization, difficulties, themes, language style and poetic nature, along with our personal stories in coming to love and appreciate the psalms. In the 2nd episode, we discussed how the psalms were used historically within the church and shared practical insights into how to use the psalms today in both corporate and private worship and prayer, including several on-air, live examples of praying and singing the psalms. In the 3rd episode, we explored praise and thanksgiving psalms. In the 4th episode, we talked about lament and confessions psalms. In the 5th episode, we discussed confidence and remembrance psalms.  You can listen to those episodes below: A Guide to Understanding the Psalms How To Use The Psalms Praise and Thanksgiving In The Psalms Lament and Confession In The Psalms Confidence and Remembrance In The Psalms If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we take a closer look at confidence and remembrance psalms, discussing both genres, their differences and areas of overlap, and ways they have been and continue to be used by Christians and the church. This includes reading select psalms in these categories that are meaningful to us. This is the 5th episode in our series on the psalms.  In the 1st episode in the series, we provided an overview of the psalms, including their history, organization, difficulties, themes, language style and poetic nature, along with our personal stories in coming to love and appreciate the psalms. In the 2nd episode, we discussed how the psalms were used historically within the church and shared practical insights into how to use the psalms today in both corporate and private worship and prayer, including several on-air, live examples of praying and singing the psalms. In the 3rd episode, we explored praise and thanksgiving psalms. In the 4th episode, we talked about lament and confessions psalms. You can listen to those episodes below: A Guide to Understanding the Psalms How To Use The Psalms Praise and Thanksgiving In The Psalms Lament and Confession In The Psalms If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we take a closer look at lament and confessions psalms, discussing both genres, their differences and areas of overlap, and ways they have been and continue to be used by Christians and the church. This includes reading select  psalms in these categories that are meaningful to us. This is the 4th episode in our series on the psalms.  In the 1st episode in the series, we provided an overview of the psalms, including their history, organization, difficulties, themes, language style and poetic nature, along with our personal stories in coming to love and appreciate the psalms. In the 2nd episode, we discussed how the psalms were used historically within the church and shared practical insights into how to use the psalms today in both corporate and private worship and prayer, including several on-air, live examples of praying and singing the psalms. In the 3rd episode, we explored praise and thanksgiving psalms in more detail. You can listen to those episodes below: A Guide to Understanding the Psalms How To Use The Psalms Praise and Thanksgiving In The Psalms If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we take a closer look at praise and thanksgiving psalms, discussing both genres, their differences and areas of overlaps, and was they have been and continue to be used by Christians and the church. This includes reading select verses from a handful of our favorite psalms. This is the 3rd episode in our series on the psalms.  In the 1st episode in the series, we provided an overview of the psalms, including their history, organization, difficulties, themes, language style and poetic nature, along with our personal stories in coming to love and appreciate the psalms. In the 2nd episode, we discussed how the psalms were used historically within the church and shared practical insights into how to use the psalms today in both corporate and private worship and prayer, including several on-air, live examples of praying and singing the psalms. You can listen to those episodes below: A Guide to Understanding the Psalms How To Use The Psalms If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode of In The News, we discuss the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the issue of abortion by ruling on the Mississippi abortion law in its next session, Russell Moore's departure from the Southern Baptist Convention and what it means, a new Bible that includes items like the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and the CDC's updated guidance for fully vaccinated people and how its impacting the church.  Links and resources mentioned in this episode:  Supreme Court Takes Up Major Abortion Case Next Term Russell Moore to leave ERLC for Christianity Today An International Perspective on God Bless the USA Bible If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.   Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we discuss how the psalms were used historically within the church and share practical insights into how to use the psalms today in both corporate and private worship and prayer. This includes several on-air, live examples of praying and singing the psalms. This is the 2nd episode in our series on the psalms. In the 1st episode, we provided an overview of the psalms, including their history, organization, difficulties, themes, language style and poetic nature, along with our personal stories in coming to love and appreciate the psalms. You can listen to that episode below: A Guide to Understanding the Psalms If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In the first episode in our series on the psalms, we discuss the significant value and purpose of the psalms in both the private worship and prayer lives of Christians and the corporate life of the church. During the conversation, we cover their history, organization, difficulties, language style and poetic nature, themes, and also share our personal stories in coming to love and appreciate the psalms.  Below are our reviews of the books mentioned in the episode: How To Read The Psalms Learning To Love The Psalms Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast.  Welcome to the Modern Cloister A History of Christian Community The Decline of Community The Future of Community The Impact of COVID-19 on Community Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In this "In The News" episode, we discuss a recent Gallup poll showing church membership dropped below 50% for the first time, Biden's failure to raise the refugee cap, the first monkey-human embryo, women songwriters, and Richard Dawkins losing the "Human of the Year" award.  Resources mentioned during the episode: Gallup Poll  U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time Losing Our Religion by Russell Moore Politics Podcast: Americans Are Losing Their Religion. That's Changing Politics Modern Cloister: The Decline of Community Modern Cloister: The Future of Community Refugee Ceiling How Evangelicals Pushed Back on Biden's Refugee Reversal Biden reverses course on refugee cap after faith groups express outrage Book Review: Seeking Refuge -- On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis  The nonprofit we mentioned is World Relief, an evangelical nonprofit that serves and advocates for the world's most vulnerable people, and this work includes refugee resettlement. For those interested, we encourage you to check out their work. In full disclosure, we have both donated to and volunteered with them.  Medical Ethics First Monkey–Human Embryos Reignite Debate Over Hybrid Animals Women Songwriters  Brave Worship Podcast Richard Dawkins Richard Dawkins Loses ‘Humanist of the Year' Title Over Trans Comments

In this episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss the significant impact of COVID-19 on community over the past year, both inside and outside the church, and share personal stories about our experiences living through the pandemic. This is the 4th and final episode in our series on community. The 1st covered the history of Christian community, the 2nd focused on the decline of community from the 1950s to present day, and the 3rd discussed the future of community within the church. 

In this episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss trends and projections for where the church is headed, along with our thoughts and commentary on the opportunity we have as Christians to influence the future of both the church and Christian community over the next decade. This is the 3rd episode in our series on community. The 1st covered the history of Christian community and the 2nd focused on the decline of community from the 1950s to present day. Resources mentioned in this episode:  Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer This is the book mentioned at the end of the podcast, for anyone interested in further reading.

In this "In The News" episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss the Atlanta Spa Shootings, Beth Moore's departure from the Southern Baptist Convention, Audrey Assad leaving the faith, and recent survey results that show evangelicals are the least likely group of society to care for others. [Please note - we experienced audio quality issues when recording this episode and will ensure those are fixed by next time. Thanks for your understanding.] Resources mentioned in the episode: ‘A crime against us all': Atlanta mayor condemns deadly spa shooting spree Stop Asian Hate: How We Got Here and What We Need to Do Russell Moore's letter regarding Beth Moore's departure from the SBC The Spiritual Problem at the Heart of Christian Vaccine Refusal  

In this episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss the decline of community in America from the 1950s through present day from the perspective of both contemporary society and the modern church. This is the 2nd episode in our series on community. The 1st covered the history of Christian community.

In this episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss the history of Christian community, exploring what both the Old and New Testaments show us about community and how the early church existed in community together. This is the 1st episode in our series on community. 

Welcome to the Modern Cloister! In this brief introductory episode, you'll hear about our purpose and vision of cultivating deeper thinkers and worshipers and learn the meaning behind our name and how it's emblematic of the type of community we hope to create through the Modern Cloister podcast.