You Never Studied

Hans and Evan say farewell to all the wonderful listeners of You Never Studied on this ultimate (final) episode of the show. 

People like NFTs. People also think they are dumb because cryptocurrency is ephemeral and not real. Hans and Evan discuss fandom around digital currency (among other things) and what that teaches us about ourselves and God. Then Evan reviews a book geared at Christian students that enroll in religion classes at secular universities and the challenges that come with them.  Then Evan discusses "The Outer Banks" on Netflix.Finally, an announcement for the YNS faithful. 

Hans and Evan attempt to understand the continual tumult in celebrity pastor culture, Hans reviews a book on creating powerful moments, and it's time for another MCU roundup, giving their reviews on both Black Widow & Loki (spoilers!).

With Evan out, Hans and Dale get together to talk about eldering. Dale is in an elder process at his church and Hans tries and talk him out of it (not really). Then Dale shares a story about a time that he was walking around with friends and broke a bone.

Why are videogamers better at finding cheaters than physicians? What is the world coming to and how do Christians respond? What is this show about that Evan's watching (Hans doesn't know)? Thanks for joining us for this episode!

Welcome to the first of two episodes about stealing (or cheating, or stretching truth). Pastor plagiarism has made its way into the limelight. The world tries to tell better stories, but Jesus has the best. Finally, The Tomorrow War basically every sci-fi movie in a blender.

What happens when you try to do things the right way and it doesn't work out? A lot happens—and it isn't all good.  Evan is working through a great book on election—and he's also serving as a post-apocalyptic mail courier. We aren't joking.

Indiana Jones just turned 40! Hans and Evan discuss a criticism lobbed at Raiders of the Lost Ark--namely, that the plot doesn't matter, and we discuss criticism in general and when and how to respond. Then Hans reviews a book by J.C. Ryle. And finally, Evan talks about watching The Chosen.

Hans and Evan have a spoiler-filled discussion about the first two episodes of the new MCU Disney Plus Series LOKI.

Follow us on a fatherhood through-line this week in You Never Studied. In honor of Father's Day we track a few of our favorite topics of the week: (1) Ghostbusters, (2) Augustine, and (3) A Quiet Place Part 2. 

"See? I knew it!" Said everyone in the world about Dr. Fauci's FOIA email dump... no matter what they read or didn't read. Don't worry. Hans and Evan don't dive too deeply into pandemic stuff but rather use the Fauci email stuff to talk about the internet and confirmation bias. Then Hans has a book on the plurality of elders. And then Evan saw Tenet. Or maybe Evan was inverted and will see Tenet. We're not sure. It was kinda confusing.

You know how those McDonald's Ice Cream Machines always seem to be broken? Turns out they are notoriously difficult to maintain and repair and need specialized technicians from the company that sells them to service them. Well, one startup found a way to help diagnose and repair the complicated machines. Until they get shut down by Big Fast Food and Big Ice Cream. Then Evan takes a swim in J.T. English's new book Deep Discipleship. Then Hans and Evan discuss the trailer for Chris Pratt's new Amazon film The Tomorrow War.

Hans and Evan put their confirmation bias to good use, discussing an article that highlights how awesome older millennials are at everything. Then Hans reviews a re-read of Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders, and then we talk Marvel's "See You At The Movies" Phase 4 trailer.

What happens when a Belgian farmer moves an old stone so he could drive his tractor through an area? He accidentally changed his country's border with neighboring France! Then Evan reviews a 9 Marks book on Biblical Theology. And finally Hans tells us about the Prime Video Original Movie - Without Remorse.

We all see things from our own perspective and, thus, often assume our experience is the norm. When it comes to those who are leaving the church, some new(er) research shows us that the exodus is more diverse than what might be assumed. This data can help us as shepherds, which is the book Hans reviewed. And what would an episode be if we didn't talk about Marvel? 

In this seventieth (!) regular episode we bring you what we've all feared: a world run by AI and robots. Follow that up with a book on prayer and a brief discussion on the next season of Picard and you have yourself a barn burner of an episode.Like, share, and subscribe.

To kick off a run of a few weeks of episodes we wanted to bring you our thoughts on the recently-completed run of The Falcon and The Winder Soldier.  Spoiler alert! A lot to discuss so let's dive right in.

A man tragically dies alone in his apartment (or "flat" for our European listeners) and lies undisturbed... for nine years... because he has autopay for all his bills. Hans and Evan discuss and then resume the second part of Evan's review for Matthew Barrett's book Simply Trinity. Then Evan talks about a new "discovery" Andrea made (a TV show about witches).

A Pastor/Senator tweeted a thing about Easter.  It was not great. Hans and Evan discuss it (and then discuss if they should discuss it).  Then Hans reviews another pastoral leadership book. His take: also not great. Then we check in on the old MCU on Disney + both The Falcon & Winter Soldier half-way mark and the new trailer for the Loki series.  (Our take: It's great).

What happens when you are an Italian mobster and fugitive uploads cooking videos on YouTube while hiding out in the Caribbean? (Hint: he gets caught) Then, Hans and Evan get theological, discussing a chapter of a book on the Trinity on Eternal Functional Subordination... and our heads hurt.  Finally, Hans brings us a musical Study Break where we talk about rapper NF's new song/video "Story."Get it while it's hot!

Preachers are still wearing sneakers! Hans and Evan revisit a topic all the way back from our first few episodes as the man behind the famous Preachers n Sneakers account has revealed his identity in order to sell his book. Then Hans talks about preaching through narrative sections of Scripture, and finally, the study break where they review the first episode of  The Falcon & the Winter Soldier

Evan kicks Hans to the curb and joins another Googer, Hans' nerdier, younger brother, Dale, for a deep dive into the fabled SNYDER CUT of DC's Justice League, which just released on HBO Max. And boy do we have opinions. Take a listen.

Hans and Evan look back on a year of life and ministry in the midst of a pandemic. Then look at Jonathan Leeman's 9 Marks Book on Church Membership, and finally, we tie up Wandavision's Finale.

Tough topic this week as Hans and Evan take a look at a few recent instances of tremendous leadership failures that all lead back to the culture of each organization. Paul Tripp's book LEAD helps provide the antidote to such poisonous cultures. And then Evan talks about band Greta Van Fleet's new song "Heat Above."

What happens when homes can have fake Twitter Blue Checks? Sadly, some people believe it's real and actually want them. Then Evan discusses John Cleese short, cheerful guide on Creativity. Finally, Hans and Evan gush about how much they are continuing to enjoy Wandavision on Disney + and speculate on where it's heading next.

Hans and Evan discuss the merits of Microsoft turning people's dead loved ones into digital recreations. Then Hans reviews a book from a Pope! Finally, the first Marvel Disney Plus show has dropped--learn how both Hans and Evan felt about Wandavision.

Is there a link between Dispensationalism and Q'Anon? Phil Vischer (jokingly) makes one, but Hans & Evan wanna discuss the implications of the joke. Then we look at a book on owning your mistakes as a pastor. Finally, we talk about the departure of James Harden and the potential re-emergence of Chris Evans in the role of Captain America. We're back!

Conan O'Brien, the late-night host who has been in the game for almost three decades is moving from his current TBS offering to a weekly show on the streaming HBO Max. Why do you care? You might not, but Evan and Hans do. As life-long fans of Conan, we've seen the way the TV host has conducted himself through some career highs and lows that warrant discussion. Plus, he's really, really funny.

What happens when you finally locate a "Murder Hornet" nest? (A lot). Hans and Evan discuss it along with the early holiday spirit everyone seems to be needing.

Hans and Evan do the unthinkable and TALK POLITICS. Particularly as it relates to Christians being faced with tough choices. Also, go vote.

Is Covid-19 a "blessing from God" or "divine judgment"? Or neither? It depends on who you ask and who's been infected... maybe? Hans and Evan try and make sense of this question. ALSO--Doctor Strange is joining Spider-Man for his third solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But will they use their made-up names?

You know all those stories you've heard about the early church? The books of the Bible were formed by a committee? Santa punched a heretic in the face? Hans and Evan get to the bottom of some of these legends and erroneous claims with authors and professors Michael Svigel and John Adair, as they discuss their new book: Urban Legends of Church History.

Hans and Evan talk through an Atlantic article on coping with the feeling of hopelessness during these troubling times. Then, we give a sneak peek at next week's deep dive into the Urban Legends of Church History. And Evan might just sell Hans on Wandavision on the air.

The former editor of Christianity Today, among the foremost Evangelical Christian publications, converts to Catholicism. Hans and Evan discuss. Also Robert Letham's book on the Trinity. And the incredibly amazing Dune Trailer--at least, according to Evan.

Evan and Hans discuss the Beatles Breakup 50 years later and narratives that persist even though, like many things, the truth is much more complicated. Speaking of Truth, Hans talks a new book on the Sermon on the Mount. And then Evan reviews Bill & Ted Face the Music.

Busy weeks for both Hans and Evan meant we didn't exactly come locked and loaded with a stacked episode this week. But you know who did come stacked for their online presentation this week? DC with their new film slate at their online "DC Fandome" event. Listen as Hans and Evan (okay, really just Evan) unpack it all for you.

The CDC issued a new report that showed a marked increase in mental health issues and substance abuse. We talk to Medical Professional Scott Bradford about it. He believes this is a significant problem that is being underreported in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to our conversation to see what it all means.

Hans and Evan are back! A good hiatus isn't worth much if you don't talk about what you did and what you learned. That leads Hans to a discussion about coaching baseball THE RIPKEN WAY! And then we answer your burning questions you had for us the break about Bon Iver, Taylor Swift and the Snyder Cut!

What happens to your brain you get lost? Hint: nothing good. What happens to Christians when they disagree about politics? Hint: also nothing good--usually--but we should work to change that and Jonathan Leeman's short booklet "How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics?" is a good start. Then, Ben Rector's quarantine-inspired jam "It Would Be You."

Episode half a hundred!Thanks for sticking with us this long. We didn't even know this was our 50th episode (plus some random episodes).Where do we head with this one? To some of our favorite topics. What might COVID do for the church negatively? Have you seen the Alicia Keys Tiny Desk concert? Also, somehow old man Batman is coming back.

Evan is back and we are all happy about it! It was time to get back to the basics—a normal flow of a show. A recent article on empathy got us wondering how thinly you can slice words before they mean almost nothing. That convo reminded us of how difficult it is to teach well. Then, to top it off, we talked a bit about the new Bill and Ted and whether or not it is a movie theater visit for us. Like, share, and subscribe.

Evan was out of commission for an evening, but Hans roped in his brother, Dale, to come join for the podcast. They previously had a podcast (Pastor and Plebe) that was more of a freeform podcast and gave it a run again for this episode. Guilty consciences, race, and selfishness all show up in this episode.

Hans and Evan are joined by special guest, fellow pastor, and family member, Kevin Bowles, to discuss how each is trying to approach resuming public worship gatherings at their respective churches.

It isn't every day that we get to have an episode with one of the biggest influences in both of our lives. Steve Corn entered into our lives when we were young (around 10) and has been there ever since. We talk youth ministry, career changing, family discipleship strategies, and much more on this latest edition of You Never Studied.

Some people cannot WAIT to get back to . . . whatever it was that they were doing before they had to stop doing it. In a recent article that was (drumroll): cruise lines. We spend some time discussing the idea of longing for the past. From there Hans shares a book he read to help him teach his kids about invest in the future, and Evan finishes discussing Waco (now on Netflix).

With COVID-19 shutting down what seems to be all other news, it is a good time to expose the world to some of our friends. This week's episode we interview Vick Green. We both served on staff with Vick and he has since moved on to focus heavily on helping local churches improve their disciple-making. He's a great hang and really helpful if you feel like you're stuck in ministry. Listen to this episode to learn about what he's working on and how he keeps himself sharp as a learner

Sometimes people say things and then have to immediately have to un-say those things. It isn't uncommon—but when you are part of a multi-billion dollar enterprise, the stakes are a little higher. Warner Brothers said, "We are rethinking the movie experience" and then said, "Jk we love movies." In the world of COVID, these stories make us chuckle. That plus John Piper wrote a book on COVID make up this week's You Never Studied.

A recent Wired article talked about how to just shut off your screen time notifications so that you don't feel guilty. Should this be what we do? How has staying at home changed our schedules and how we approach our days? Hans finished up a book recommended by a congregant, and Courtney (Hans' wife) is tearing through Harry Potter books with the kids.

This week we brought in Hans' old seminary friend Chris to help discuss Jesus, holy week, and Passover. Chris works for Friends of Israel and spends his days doing radio, writing for their ministry, and (when no virus) leading trips to Israel to better help people better understand what God has revealed in Scripture.

With so many churches live-streaming, the decision on communion comes to the forefront. On a whim, we asked Dr. Michael Svigel, department chair of theological studies at Dallas Seminary, if he’d come on to live stream an episode of our podcast. Dr. Svigel had argued that churches could replicate many things, but communion was not one of them.Dr. Svigel said he would do it, but only if Dr. John Dyer, dean of enrollment services and distance education at Dallas Seminary (also a coding ninja), would join. Dr. Dyer writes on the intersection of theology and technology. Last week he wrote about historic views of communion as well as how churches approach participating in communion online.Graciously, and on short notice, both came on to discuss, and the conversation was incredibly helpful.

In different times we do different things—like live stream the recording of the episode and leaving it for you to enjoy on a Monday (with minor edits). A week ago many churches were scrambling to figure out what to do and how to do it when they weren't meeting. We work through this reality, our decisions, some lessons learned, and a couple predictions now that life has been somewhat upended temporarily.