Podcasts about american christianity

In the 1700s, Delaware witnessed powerful movements that shaped American Christianity. Today, Stephen Nichols continues exploring this colony's church history, from George Whitefield's Great Awakening preaching to the rise of Methodism. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/a-little-church-history-of-a-middle-colony-the-first-great-awakening/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Journalist and author William J. Kole joins me to unpack the deep and often hidden ties between white evangelicalism, politics, fear, and America's gun culture. Drawing from his new book In Guns We Trust, Bill shares how his own ministry collided with concealed weapons, why fear has shaped so much of the church's response to gun violence, and how Christian nationalism and the idolizing of the Second Amendment have influenced our national crisis. We talk about the shift from historic Christian nonviolence to the embrace of firearms, the political power that keeps common-sense reforms stalled, and what other countries have done to reduce mass shootings. We also explore why “thoughts and prayers” aren't enough and what a truly pro-life ethic demands of us today. If you long to break cycles of violence and return to the nonviolent way of Jesus, this is an essential and challenging conversation.William J. Kole is a veteran journalist and a former foreign correspondent who has reported from North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. As Vienna bureau chief for The Associated Press, he wrote extensively on the nexus of crime, the weapons trade, arms trafficking and terrorism across Eastern Europe.His evangelical credentials are as extensive as his journalistic ones: He's a former lay missionary for the Assemblies of God, a worship leader at evangelical churches in Europe and around his native New England, and served as board president of Dorcas USA, an international Christian relief and development agency.Kole was AP's New England bureau chief when a gunman armed with a military-style assault rifle massacred 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Earlier in his career, he was a lead writer on the car crash that killed Britain's Princess Diana, and he also covered the arrest of former Yugoslav strongman Slobodan Milosevic, the death of Pope John Paul II, and Kosovo's independence. His many awards include one from the Society of American Business Editors & Writers for an investigation into the exploitation of undocumented immigrants by the Walmart retail chain.Kole, who speaks French, Dutch and German, studied journalism at Boston University and was a journalism fellow at Columbia University in New York and the National Press Foundation in Washington, D.C. Now an editor for Axios, he lives in Providence, R.I., and Paris.Bill's Book:In Guns We TrustBill's Recommendation:Jesus and John WayneConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowFind the Presence Over Power collection at www.shiftingculturepodcast.com/store Get Your Sidekick Support the show

Episode 99 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Kaitlin Curtice. They explore Indigenous spirituality, the power of stories, the cyclical nature of being, expansiveness and liminality, the difference between certainty and faith, joy in art, Mother Earth, community, taking time to heal, presence and contemplation, and much more. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe:  Email | RSS | More A transcript of the show is available. "Liminality is just the gray areas of life, the spaces where we don't quite know yet. We don't quite have things figured out or it's complex. And I think that if we're honest, that's where so many of us live spiritually, is in those deep questions." -Kaitlin Curtice Kaitlin Curtice ABOUT THE GUEST Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships. Kaitlin leads workshops and retreats, as well as lectures and keynote presentations, ranging from panels at the Aspen Climate Conference to speaking at the Chautauqua Institution and at universities, private retreat centers, and churches across the country. In 2020 Kaitlin's award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God won Georgia Author of the Year in the religion category. Native explores the relationship between American Christianity and Indigenous peoples, drawing on Kaitlin's experiences as a Potawatomi woman. In 2023, Kaitlin released two books, first, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, which examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth, and second, her first children's book called Winter's Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature, which is the premier book in a series of four books on the four seasons coming out with Convergent, RandomHouse Books. Her second book in the series called Summer's Magic was released in 2024. Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes essays and poetry for The Liminality Journal and spends her time supporting other authors as they navigate the world of publishing. Kaitlin lives near Philadelphia with her partner, two dogs, and two kids. Find out more about Kaitlin at Instagram.com/kaitlincurtice, and The Liminality Journal on Substack. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh.  Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comIn this episode of Faithful Politics, Will and Josh speak with Holly Berkley Fletcher, historian, essayist, former CIA Africa analyst, and author of The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism. Drawing from her childhood in Kenya as an MK and years of research on the American missionary movement, Holly explores how missionary culture has shaped white evangelical identity, race narratives, and U.S. religious politics for more than a century.She discusses the history of American missions, the deep roots of evangelical “calling,” the romanticized myth of the missionary saint, and why missionary children often carry the hidden costs of their parents' spiritual ambitions. The conversation dives into race, colonial influence, trauma, American exceptionalism, Christian nationalism, global evangelicalism, and how missions became both a mirror and mask for white American Christianity. Holly also shares personal stories—from boarding school trauma to growing up surrounded by stark inequality—that illuminate the insider/outsider vantage point MKs uniquely bring.If you care about global Christianity, American evangelical culture, deconstruction, mission work, or the complicated intersection of faith and identity, this episode offers an honest, challenging, and deeply human lens.Buy: The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889832034Guest Bio Holly Berkley Fletcher is a historian, essayist, and former Africa analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where she spent nearly two decades focusing on political, cultural, and security trends across the continent. Raised in Kenya as a missionary kid, she later earned a PhD in American History, giving her a unique insider/outsider perspective on evangelical culture. Her book, The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism, blends memoir and research to examine the American missions movement, the psychology of calling, racial narratives, and the long-term impact on children raised in missionary families. Her work explores faith, identity, trauma, and globSupport the show

We don't sugarcoat eternity… We expose it. We don't tiptoe around the stakes… We name them: heaven or hell, life or death, victory or regret.We don't bow to comfort, compromise, or cancel culture… We charge into the fire, because Christ is King and the boardroom belongs to Him.Welcome to episode 167 of the C-Suite for Christ podcast, where Paul M. Neuberger pulls zero punches. Today's rally cry is clear: eternity hangs in the balance, and the road is narrow—few will walk it, but only the faithful survive it.Paul M. Neuberger confronts the culture head-on: “Salvation is free, but following Jesus will cost you everything.” He dismantles easy Christianity, exposes lukewarm faith, and calls out a church obsessed with comfort instead of conviction.The cost? Criticism. Rejection. Sacrifice.The truth? Jesus didn't call us to a wide, easy road. He called us to full surrender. The world applauds the crowd—God crowns the courageous.What will you do when YOUR narrow road comes calling?Are you ready to deny yourself, take up your cross, and walk where few dare to go?Buckle up. This one's raw, real, and rooted in the Word.Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. –Matthew 7:13-14 Episode Highlights:04:56 – Culture says the narrow road is judgmental. Culture says the narrow road is old fashioned. Culture says the narrow road is intolerant. Culture says the narrow road is hateful. Culture believes every road leads to heaven unless you believe that one road doesn't. But Jesus didn't say the road is narrow because he wanted to exclude people. The road is narrow because truth is narrow. The road is narrow because holiness is narrow. The road is narrow because obedience is narrow. The road is narrow because sin can't travel with you. The road is narrow because your will must die on that road. The road is narrow because Christ is the only way. And only has never been a popular word. Today, the wide road dominates American Christianity. It's in prosperity preaching, it's an entertainment preaching. It's in the God wants you be happy movement. 13:27 – The narrow road is narrow because Christ is the gate and Christ is not optional. The narrow road is also marked by fruit. Jesus said this in Matthew 7:20, by their fruits you will know them. That means the narrow road produces visible evidence, repentance, righteousness, compassion, purity, generosity, faithfulness, boldness, courage and obedience. And perhaps the clearest marker of the narrow road is this. It changes you. Not your personality, your identity, not your preferences, your priorities, not your feelings, your foundation. The Narrow road is not something you admire, it's something you walk. And those who walk it are unmistakably different from the world. Not because they're better than anyone else, but because Christ has made them new. 29:59 – You can't stay on the narrow road accidentally. You can't stay on the narrow road passively. You can't stay on the narrow road on spiritual autopilot. You stay on it intentionally or you drift off of it inevitably. So how does the disciple stay anchored? If you like lists, boy, you love this episode because here's another one for you. How do you stay anchored on the narrow road?Connect with Paul M. NeubergerWebsite 

For our first of five "best of" episodes for December, we revisit episode #182.White Christian Nationalism threatens American Democracy and American Christianity, but how did we get here, what happens next, and why won't this election solve the problem?If you want to call in to the Bonus Show, leave a voicemail at (530) 332-8020. We'll get to your calls on next Friday's Bonus Show. Or, you can email Matthew at matthew@quoir.com.Join The Quollective today! Use code "slayfascism50" to save 50% off a yearly subscription. Valid now through the end of 2025.Pick up Keith and Matt's book, Reading Romans Right, today, as well as The UnChristian Truth About White Christian Nationalism.Please consider signing up to financially support the Network: QuoirCast on PatreonIf you want to be a guest on the show, email keith@quoir.com.LINKSQuoirCast on PatreonQuoirCast on Patheos Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textToday we're celebrating a very special return guest: author, speaker, and independent scholar Diana Butler Bass. If you've been with us before, you'll remember our deep dive into her beautiful book Freeing Jesus. Today, Diana is back with a brand-new offering: A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance—a book designed to guide us through the seasons, the stories, and the spiritual rhythms that shape a life.You've heard Diana's Substack series, When? When? When? – Longing for the End of Empire. It resonated with me deeply—especially as I write in my own Substack, “When is this going to END?” It echoes Jesus' ancient warning that even the most imposing empires—Herod's Temple, Rome's occupation—will crumble. Empires end, but the Kingdom of God endures. That tension—our longing for an end, and our anticipation of a new beginning—brings us right into Advent.At seventy-seven, I've lived through a decade of Trump-era headlines that have stretched and wrinkled my sense of time. Diana helps us see that time is not just linear—it's circular, liturgical, meaningful. Not the calendar I grew up with in my evangelical days, but one filled with story, metaphor, archetype, and hope. Advent reminds us: we wait for peace, for justice, for love. And when the signs appear, Jesus says, the time is near.So join us. Diana's spiritual kaleidoscope opens a winding, wonder-filled journey through darkness toward light. This conversation will move you—heart, mind, and spirit.SHOW NOTESSupport the showBecome a Patron - Click on the link to learn how you can become a Patron of the show. Thank you! Ken's Substack Page The Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com

In this episode, we continue unpacking the difficult but necessary history surrounding the transatlantic slave trade, international slavery systems, and how these events connect to the curses described in Deuteronomy 28. When we honestly study geography, Scripture, and historical patterns of oppression, we begin to see how the experiences of those the world calls “Black” in America overwhelmingly align with the very markers Scripture gives to identify the natural branches of Israel. This isn't about skin color itself, but about the shared, generational experiences of captivity, displacement, and oppression that mirror the biblical curses in their entirety.We also explore Joel 3, where Yahuah condemns the nations for selling His people, scattering them far from their homeland, and dividing His land. This passage strikingly parallels the many slave trades carried out throughout world history—not just the transatlantic system, but numerous others in which powerful nations trafficked and exploited people for profit. Christianity, as practiced by many European and American institutions, played a direct role in this oppression by white-washing Scripture, presenting a European Messiah, and using theology to justify enslavement.This distortion produced deep psychological and spiritual trauma. Enslaved Hebrews were taught a version of Christianity crafted by their oppressors—while simultaneously being beaten, raped, and dehumanized by the same people who demanded they worship a “white savior” and call their enslavers “master.” The long-term impact of this manufactured religious identity has passed down through generations, especially through forbidden images, statues, and portrayals that Scripture itself warns against.We take a deeper look at how early American Christianity was built on pro-slavery theology, from the “slave Bible” that removed empowering passages to sermons commanding enslaved people to obey their earthly masters. We also address the misuse of the “curse of Ham,” and the ways religious institutions have avoided reckoning with their role in centuries of exploitation. We also touch on the Gullah Geechee people—descendants of enslaved Africans who were brought to the coastal regions of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Their unique preservation of language and culture provides powerful evidence of a people who maintained distinct Hebrew-like traditions despite centuries of oppression. The Gullah Geechee's isolation, resilience, and continuity of ancestral customs mirror the scattered yet preserved identity described in Scripture. Their history offers another compelling layer in understanding who the descendants of the natural branches truly are, and how Yahuah preserved markers of identity even in the midst of captivity.By revisiting this history honestly, we can better understand the identity of Yahuah's people, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the ongoing impact of slavery on the descendants of those scattered to the four corners of the earth.SOURCES: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PwGkswcNUZrz55zhNpVcXSnsrq8GUaS4/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=102408561475528851254&rtpof=true&sd=true Support the show

Brad and Dan are back from the American Academy of Religion conference in Boston and kick off this episode with some love for the folks they met there before diving into a wild week in American politics and religion. They start with the viral moment between Erika Kirk and JD Vance at a TPUSA event, unpacking the media frenzy, the rumors about Kirk's political aspirations, and what this says about the internal dynamics of a GOP that's trying to blend celebrity, piety, and power. From there, they break down the Department of Justice's statement implicating Kristi Noem in deportation flights and what that level of entanglement means for accountability within the MAGA movement. The second half of the episode takes a thoughtful turn as Brad and Dan dig into Bill McKibben's essay “They're Doing to America What They Did to Christianity,” exploring how nostalgia and selective memory shape everything from Christian identity to policy debates. They look at why both right wing and progressive versions of Christian nationalism are so dangerous, how civilizational populism reshaped politics during and after the Obama years, and why the GOP still has no coherent healthcare plan. Despite the heavy topics, the hosts offer reasons for hope with updates on recent legal wins, global news like Bolsonaro's sentencing in Brazil, and reminders of why staying engaged matters. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John and Christian dive into the State of Theology 2025 survey and uncover surprising contradictions in what American Christians believe about God, the Bible, and salvation. From the question "Is Jesus God?" to debates about sin, gender, and truth itself, the results expose a growing divide between biblical foundations and cultural Christianity. John reflects on how Pentecostal and Charismatic teachings have reshaped people's view of God, while Christian connects the trends to the loss of a biblical worldview and the rise of subjective truth. Together, they discuss how theology has shifted from reverence to relativism—and what it means for the future of faith.______________________State of Theology:https://thestateoftheology.com______________________Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K ______________________- Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

Title: “Not An Empty Visit” Part 1 Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 FCF: We often struggle boldly giving the gospel without allowing in worldly influence. Prop: Because the gospel is God's power unto salvation, we must boldly give the unaltered gospel of God. Scripture Intro: CSB [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we'll read from the Christian Standard Bible starting in verse 1. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. I realize that it has been over two years since we have studied a New Testament letter. When we study this genre, it usually consists of 2 or 3 thoughts that are being conveyed, not in story, but in logical exposition. This requires us to simultaneously zoom in to individual thoughts while continuing to keep the broader picture in mind. So, with that being said – let's review what Chapter one talked about before we move into chapter two. Chapter 1 began with a greeting to the Thessalonian church and then immediately Paul expressed his and his companions' thankfulness to God for them – and for the cardinal Christian graces that they continue to demonstrate. Of course, the reason that they are thankful for the Thessalonian church is because the evangelists know that they are God's elect. How do they know that? First, because of the way the gospel came to them in the power of the Spirit. Second, because they have observed how the Thessalonian church has become imitators of Christ and are setting a good example for all believes both in how they receive the Word in joy amid persecution and how they shared their testimony. Paul will now turn his attention to the evangelists' example when they were among them. So, let's read Paul's next thought, starting in verse 1 and going to verse 12 of chapter 2. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: All Powerful God, we come to you today to revel in what You have done. You have rescued us from Your Holy Justice. You have placed on Christ our just reward for our sin. You have given us His righteousness by which we can, by faith, walk worthy of our holy calling. I pray that You would use Your Spirit to open our eyes to what we must be for Your glory. And Lord, give new hearts to those who need them so they too can respond to the gospel of light and life. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “We do not evangelize because we expect results. We evangelize because we are sent men.” Joe Blinco “Every single believer is a God-ordained agent of evangelism.” R.B. Kuiper “Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” C.H. Spurgeon Let these ideas roll over you as we set into the text this morning. I.) The gospel is God's power unto salvation, so we must boldly preach the gospel of God in spite of opposition. (1-2) a. [Slide 3] 1 - For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit with you was not without result. i. The word “for” obviously beckons us to look backward. 1. This conjunction explains something mentioned previously. 2. Since Paul goes on to explain how he and his companions came to Thessalonica and how they were received, we should see this entire section as an explanation of the statement from verse 9. 3. Which itself is a further result from what was stated in verse 5, how the Thessalonians knew what kind of men the evangelists were by how they conducted themselves in Thessalonica. 4. Verses 1-16 of chapter 2 is an explanation or an elaboration from the evangelists' point of view on those same events. 5. The more perplexing question is, why is Paul reviewing this content if the Thessalonians got it right? If they accurately remembered all of this information – why say it again? a. Some scholars believe that Paul is explaining how they were different from other traveling teachers and their sordid practices. b. Some scholars insist that Paul is merely reemphasizing their example to the Thessalonians so that they and their leaders could continue to imitate them. c. Still others think that Paul is addressing accusations against the evangelists raised by unbelieving people in Thessalonica, in an attempt to dissuade the Thessalonian church from abandoning their lifestyles. 6. It is my point of view that all of these can be true all at once. And most likely – they probably are all true to some degree. ii. Paul again uses the word “know” and Paul again says they know. They know what? iii. Specifically, Paul says that they know that it was not without result. 1. The words “without result” is also much debated. 2. If you want a full explanation on all the options, you should come to Thursday Night Bible Study where we always take a behind the sermon look at the text. 3. But it seems best to me to think that Paul is saying that their time with the Thessalonians did not prove to be without fruit. iv. So how was their ministry there fruitful? b. [Slide 4] 2 - On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, i. Part of the proof of the fruitfulness of the mission was is in the humble and tumultuous beginnings of the Thessalonian mission. ii. Paul and his companions didn't ride into Thessalonica with groupies and with pomp and fanfare. iii. They didn't come into the city having grown accustomed to overwhelmingly positive responses to their presence. iv. In other words – they know a poor reception when they see one. v. And it doesn't get much poorer of a reception as it did in Philippi. vi. As a reminder to us – what happened in Phillipi? 1. While going down to the river to pray, a demon possessed girl who was being used by men for the spirits' fortune telling capabilities, came against the apostles. The spirit did so, so frequently, and so obnoxiously, that Paul eventually grew irritated and cast the demon out. 2. The men who prostituted her for her sad condition were furious because their source of income had dried up. 3. They brought Paul and Silas before the city magistrates. They were beaten and thrown in prison without a trial. 4. Of course, God freed them from the jail, which led to the conversion of the Philippian jailer. But eventually they were forced to leave. vii. Paul, to the Thessalonians confesses that this treatment was outrageous, even by gentile standards. viii. So, the Thessalonian mission did not begin with an expectation of the evangelists to be received well. ix. But what did happen that made sure their entrance was not in vain? That it produced results? c. [Slide 5] we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. i. After they arrived from Philippi, they did not come in gun shy. ii. They didn't come timidly. iii. They came emboldened by God. They were given courage by God to speak His gospel to them. iv. Now what might Paul mean “in spite of great opposition?” v. This is most certainly referencing the opposition in Thessalonica itself. vi. We know that only 3 weeks into the mission in Thessalonica, Paul had to abandon his teaching in the synagogue, since the Jews had, for the most part, rejected the message of the gospel. vii. Over the next few weeks, the Jews became increasingly more and more jealous of the success of the gospel to persuade many gentiles to receive Christ. This is when they raised up a mob. viii. In spite of this, the evangelists were given boldness by God to preach His message and because of God, the results bore much fruit. d. [Slide 6] Summary of the Point: In these first two verses Paul demonstrates quite clearly that the courage to preach the gospel, the message of the gospel, and the results of the gospel are always sourced in God Himself. In the book of Romans, Paul puts this succinctly when he says that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. And let's imagine that these evangelists are humans like you and I. Do you think the evangelists, in their flesh, arrived in Thessalonica and were a little hesitant about preaching the gospel? Do you think they'd rather teach something else or at least do it quietly at first to make sure they weren't immediately booted out of Thessalonica too? Do you think they were tempted to use the gospel to serve themselves and care for themselves? Most likely they arrived in Thessalonica still bearing bruises and cuts from their beatings in Philippi. Do you think they were not tempted to keep a low profile or even to alter their message so it wasn't as offensive? Maybe they should focus on befriending everyone first and then worry about preaching the gospel. Instead, Paul says that the courage, the message, and the results are all of God. So, like the apostles, we too must boldly preach the gospel of God in spite of opposition. Transition: [Slide 7 (blank)] So, we see the positive side of why their mission was not vain, empty, or fruitless. It was emboldened by God, with His message and therefore He produced the results. But if you are thinking, ok, what was there to succumb to? What were the apostles tempted to replace the boldness and message of God with? What would have rendered their mission there, empty? In the next four verses, Paul identifies 6 fleshly motives they did not bring with them to preach to the Thessalonians. These 6 motives would have rendered their mission there fruitless and in vain. So, what are they? II.) The gospel is God's power unto salvation, so we must preach the gospel in accordance with His will. (3-6) a. [Slide 8] 3 - For our exhortation didn't come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive. i. This word “for” is again an explanatory conjunction. ii. But what is it explaining? iii. It is explaining how they know that God emboldened them to preach his message in spite of persecution. And the evidence is in what they did not do. iv. Paul doesn't tell them what they already know happened. He tells them what they know DIDN”T happen. Which is probably to counter things that are being spoken against the evangelists. v. So what are Paul, Silas, and Timothy being accused of? 1. Paul says that their exhortation, their appeal, their plea for them to receive the gospel, did not come from error. 2. Error here carries with it the idea of unintentional ignorance. Paul and his companions did not come, begging them to receive Christ, because they were delusional or ill-informed or doctrinally imprecise. 3. Paul says they did not make their appeal from impurity either. 4. Impurity is often used to describe sexual sins, but here in the context it seems that this isn't what Paul intends. 5. More likely Paul means the more general idea that is to mix something pure with something impure. 6. And so Paul is saying that their gospel appeal was not made with their mouths while they had ulterior motives in their hearts. It isn't a bait and switch. It wasn't given to them in order to accomplish some selfish goal. 7. Finally, Paul says they did not make their appeal by way of deceit or as the CSB translates it, with intent to deceive. 8. The CSB helps us here to understand that this is by far the most egregious accusation. That the evangelists came with skillful treachery to intentionally lead them astray. vi. Paul denies all these claims and goes back to his original point. b. [Slide 9] 4 - Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but rather God, who examines our hearts. i. The source of their message and even their commissioning is God Himself. ii. God approved them for this work and entrusted them with the gospel. This word entrusted is the same word we use when we talk about belief or faith. God trusted them, His apostles, and by extension, His church, with His gospel message. iii. Therefore, they don't have the low aspiration with their appeal to woo people to themselves or to tell people what they want to hear. iv. Paul even warns in a later letter that in the last days people will gather to themselves preachers who tickle their ears. Who tell them what they want to hear. v. Indeed, part of the reason such preachers are popular is because they'd never be caught teaching anything that might offend someone. 1. Joel Osteen was on a Larry King once with John MacArthur. The question was raised concerning homosexuality. 2. Of course, John MacArthur articulated well the ancient teaching of the scriptures regarding the sinfulness of the lifestyle. 3. But Osteen, who today has a church attendance of around 52,000 people on average, did all he could to avoid taking any stand at all on the issue. He bumbled his way through trying desperately to say nothing at all. 4. Why? 5. He is an ear tickler. He tells people what they already think. He tells them what they want to hear. And if he wants to keep the 52,000 congregation… he'll continue to do just that. vi. The evangelists did not try to tickle the ears of the Thessalonians and preach something that would please them or confirm what they already thought. vii. Why? viii. Because the evangelists will not stand before the Thessalonians someday to give an account for how they handled the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead, they will stand before God Himself. ix. Why? x. Because the gospel is GOD'S! It is God's power to salvation. It's message and Its effect all belong to HIM. And Him alone. We do not have the liberty to alter it or use it for selfish ends. xi. And here is the great warning to us… xii. God EXAMINES the thoughts and intentions of the hearts of every evangelist. Despite our best efforts to hide, if we have these motives, God would see right through us. xiii. Instead, the Evangelists endeavor to please God and fulfill the commission that He has given them. c. [Slide 10] 5 - For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives—God is our witness— i. So, the evangelists did not make their appeal to them because they were ill-informed, had ulterior motives, wished to deceive them or wished to please them and gain popularity. ii. They also NEVER wished to flatter them in order to extort them. iii. We should see this flattery of speech and greedy motives as connected and not two separate things. iv. They never used buttery language set in honey to fleece them. v. It was quite common for traveling preachers to pop into a city for a short time and sell their snake oil. vi. Cults continue to make unseemly amounts of money off of people primarily by crafting their message around what people want to hear and flattering them with only positive language. vii. Before you know it, you are writing checks for the ministry. Big checks too. Why? viii. Because big gifts = big rewards. ix. But the evangelists never wished to get anything from the Thessalonians. They didn't peddle the gospel for money. Paul worked hard as a tentmaker to ensure that his expenses were paid so that he did not have to live by those who received the gospel. x. As he mentioned earlier – God sees their hearts… so God can bear witness to the fact that they did not do this to make money. xi. How else did the evangelists NOT come to Thessalonica? d. [Slide 11] 6 - and we didn't seek glory from people, either from you or from others. i. Sometimes traveling teachers would not come in for money, or for popularity, but in order that they would make a name for themselves. ii. That they would be renowned as an excellent speaker. iii. But Paul assures the Thessalonians – that isn't us. iv. May Christ increase and we decrease was their motto. v. They wished to spread the fame of Jesus' name – but not their own. vi. Paul, Silas, and Timothy, were blameless in their giving of the gospel. Because they wanted nothing from the Thessalonians other than for them to hear about God and His Christ who died to save sinners from the wrath to come. vii. They preached this message boldly, not for their hearer's sake, but primarily to please God who had approved of them and entrusted them with the gospel. e. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Paul once again, in different words, makes the same point. He says in no uncertain terms that God approved and entrusted the gospel to these evangelists. And God continued to examine their hearts too as they took His gospel wherever they went. By extension we can say that God approves and entrusts His church with His gospel as well, and continues to examine our hearts as we take it to the nations. What does this mean? Essentially it is the same point as before. The gospel is God's power unto salvation. What does that mean we must do? It means that we must not appropriate the gospel for selfish ends, and we must not alter the gospel or dilute the gospel to please those to whom we preach it. Since it is God's gospel and His power and His results which He entrusts to us, we should be very careful that our message, methods, and motives all align with His will. And we would do well to recognize that He sees our motives all the time. Conclusion: So CBC, what basic concepts have we learned today that informs and corrects our faith and shapes and guides our practice? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 13] The Gospel belongs to God. It is His. Its message, its power, its effect, its calling, its distribution all belong to God. It is His power unto salvation for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. Because, beginning to end it all belongs to God, full stop. Because of this, we have some explicit warnings in this passage that we would do well to heed. First, we should preach it with confidence, even in the midst of great opposition. He will give us boldness to preach His message. Why? Because it belongs to Him. And so, by the way, do we. We are not given the luxury of preaching the gospel only when it is convenient, comfortable, or pleasant. A second application we can draw from the fact that the gospel belongs to God is that we must be abundantly careful that we do not succumb to the temptation to dilute the gospel's message and/or use worldly methods to preach it, in order to pursue selfish motives. But let me rail on this a little. Because if you think that American Christianity doesn't have a problem with this – you have been living under a rock. 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the Gospel is God's power unto salvation. a. In 1741 in Enfield Massachusetts, Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon titled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” b. Enfield was known as a fairly sinful community and was at this time host to various preachers coming for the week. c. It is said that during his sermon people interrupted him several times. But the interruptions were not rude or antagonistic. Instead, they were weeping, rolling on the ground, grabbing hold of the pillars of the church building, crying out to God for mercy and to spare them His wrath. d. This sermon became famous for officially beginning the Great Awakening in the American Colonies. e. Now if you hear this Historical record and your first thought is that Jonathan Edwards must have been a very powerful speaker. Well, there are two things wrong with you. First, you haven't listened to the sermon up to this point and second you know nothing of Jonathan Edwards. f. Jonathan Edwards had somewhat of a weak voice. He read/memorized his sermon. He was not a boring man but he was by no means an entertainer or an exceptionally gifted speaker. g. And perhaps you think – well perhaps he wasn't an especially gifted speaker but gifted writing even in the hands of poor speakers can still have great impact. h. Ahh, two problems again. First, you haven't listened to the sermon up to this point. Second, This wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last time Jonathan Edwards would preach this sermon. i. If it were an especially excellent homiletical work, we might expect it to render results on everyone who sees it or hears it. Afterall, especially gifted pieces of art fascinate most from the connoisseur to the ignorant. Though you know nothing of musical composition, to sit and listen to Brahms, Beethoven, Bach, or Vivaldi, you cannot help but be in awe of the way the notes weave themselves together. j. And yet, history records for us that although others responded to the same sermon, it was never as powerful as it had been that day in Enfield. k. All this proves the point which Paul so masterfully drives home. l. The gospel is God's message. He gives it power and persuasion as He brings its truths to bear upon the hearers. He also gives His preachers the boldness to preach such a message. He approves and entrusts the gospel message to them while examining their hearts to be sure they are empty of self. m. The gospel is God's power unto salvation. n. Not only should men not take and meddle with it – ultimately, they cannot. o. The real power of the real gospel belongs exclusively to God. p. What does this mean for us? q. Well positively we must conclude that.. 2.) [Slide 15] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must preach the gospel boldly even amid great opposition. a. Now think about this. If the gospel's power relies on our power of persuasion. If we are responsible for convincing and drawing and wooing men to the gospel… b. How might opposition and severe persecution hinder the gospel? c. If God has entrusted the gospel to us, to the extent that the conversion of every person relies on our excellence in preaching the gospel… d. Then my friends – we are sunk. e. You might say – No Chris! I'm not afraid of persecution! They can do anything they want to me. I'll still preach the gospel with the same power and vigor. f. My friend, you are either a fool or a liar. g. In your flesh, you would crumble and succumb. Were it not for the emboldening of God, Paul, Silas, and Timothy would not have preached the gospel in Thessalonica. h. But the message of the gospel, the power of the gospel, the boldness to share the gospel, the results of the gospel, the commissioning of the gospel, the entrusting of the gospel, the examination of the gospel… is all from the Eternal and Omnipotent God of the Universe. i. Oftentimes our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. But the Lord has approved us and entrusted us with the gospel. He has sent us into this world to be His representatives. To take His gospel to the nations. To make disciples. j. We can go and do this with confidence – not trusting in our own resolve or ability to stay cool under pressure or amid threats against us – but rather trusting in His strength to sustain us and to equip us. k. Despite having just come from terrible persecution and stepping into more – Paul, Silas, and Timothy boldly shared the gospel in the strength and power of God. l. We too must do this. m. But what negative application does this truth have on us? 3.) [Slide 16] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must stop preaching the gospel with a diluted message, worldly methods, and selfish motives. a. If the gospel is God's message, and He gives us boldness to speak it, infuses it with power so it renders results upon those whom He is calling to repentance and faith, and He entrusts us with it while examining our hearts as we take it to others… b. What makes us think that we can be innovative in how we share His gospel? c. Imagine you have a desk job. You have your own cubicle and computer with which you do your job every day. Or perhaps you work in a shop and you have your own station with your own tools which you come into every day to accomplish your tasks. d. But you go on vacation. And you approve and entrust your work station and your work to another person at your workplace. e. Now imagine when you return to your job you find that all your desktop icons have been moved and some of them are no longer there. There are programs missing from your computer. The computer has been moved next to the coffee maker and now shares the outlet with it. In the shop, your tools are rearranged and some of them are missing. Some tools have been modified, with portions filed off for some unknown reason. f. Would it be safe to say that you might be a little angry about this? g. What was your expectation? Is it reasonable that your expectation would be that they would change nothing and simply do the job to the best of their ability but in the same manner with the same tools that you did the job? h. I think it is abundantly reasonable to expect exactly that. i. How ludicrous is it then that the God of the universe has given us His message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, has entrusted it to us, and promised to give us boldness to preach it, promising that He will empower it to render the results He desires… and then we change it. j. We think – well, it isn't exactly popular for people to hear that they are sinners, that their prized habits and pastimes, identities and orientations are wickedness before God. And that these sins will condemn them to suffer the eternal wrath of God. i. So why don't we just chop off that part of the gospel? ii. Let's just talk about how God loves everyone and has a wonderful plan for their life. iii. Let's just talk about how He sent Jesus to start a relationship with each of us. iv. God sent His most prized possession because we were worth it! v. That is much less offensive. vi. That actually makes people feel good. vii. We should preach that instead. k. Or we think - It isn't exactly pleasant to hear that we are condemned before God and there is literally nothing we can do, say, or think that will change that. i. So, let's preach that we can do something. ii. Let's preach that we can get baptized, go to church, take communion, give to the poor, confess our sins, pray a prayer, invite Jesus into our hearts – and at the end of the day one of these things is bound to save us. iii. Or because God says that salvation is by faith that must mean that we all have some pretty remarkable faith inside us and if we'd just use it God would give us salvation. iv. That is much better for us! We aren't completely hopeless. We have our human gumption and innate faithfulness that will get us there. l. Or we observe that It isn't exactly pleasant to hear that in salvation Christ not only rescues us from the wrath of God on sin, but He also cleanses us from unrighteousness and makes us into the righteousness of God whereby we become slaves to righteousness and live holy lives in order to see God. i. So, let's just preach that all you have to do is make 1 choice to believe a list of things about Jesus and then you'll go to heaven. ii. Don't want to go to church often? No problem. You decided Jesus was real. That's all that really matters. You probably don't need other people around you who did the same. And they certainly don't need you. All you need is Jesus right? Maybe you can just attend online. Or maybe you can just come for the children's church. That should be enough. iii. Don't want to love your neighbor? Sure… that's ok, I don't either. Remember – God loves YOU. That's what is important. iv. Don't want to turn from sleeping with someone who isn't your spouse? I get it! Don't worry about it. God will forgive you! v. Don't want to submit to your authorities in the church, the home, or the government? No problem. You are just fiercely independent. Jesus was a rebel too. vi. Don't want to be part of a church in order to serve other believers? That's totally fine. After all – what about your needs right? You are special after all. At least that is what mommy told you. m. Or we notice that It is very difficult to warn people that there is a cost to following Christ. That they may be hated and maligned for it. That the world will reject them just like they rejected Jesus. i. So instead, why don't we tell them that God wants them to be wealthy and healthy. ii. God always desires to heal and bless. iii. And when they come to Jesus their life will be great. iv. We can even tell them all the celebrities that have claimed to be Christians. v. Don't you want to be just like Chris Pratt and Kanye West and Kat Von D? vi. Man, that will really get them excited. They can join the club that these folks are in! Awesome! n. Or we lament that It isn't exactly compelling to hear that we need to go preach the gospel to please God. God is invisible and it is tough to be highly motivated to go out and preach the Word primarily for His glory. Especially when we see little results. i. So why don't we talk about how everyday people are going to hell? ii. Yeah, that is a great motivator – guilt. iii. Let's really lay it on thick and tell people that the only reason that people go to hell is because we never shared the gospel with them. iv. This goes perfectly with our gospel message that never mentions sin. v. Let's tell them that the fate of their friend's souls rests on whether or not they share the gospel with them. vi. That will really light the fire under them. vii. Afterall, the only thing stopping people from receiving the gospel is that they have never heard it… right? o. Do you see what happens my friends. When we meddle with the gospel: its message, or our own methods and motives in preaching it? What happens? We no longer have the gospel. Just like you no longer had your work station. It has become something else entirely. p. The gospel is the power of God. He emboldens us to speak it. He gives it power. He produces results through it. He has entrusted us with it and He will continue to examine our hearts as we preach it. q. It is best to not tamper with what isn't ours. r. But as a believer perhaps you are quite upset by this. Perhaps you are afraid that you are going to mess it up inadvertently. Maybe you'd never do it on purpose – but what if you mess up God's gospel on accident? 4.) [Slide 17] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God makes the gospel fruitful, sometimes in spite of us. a. Despite all these philosophies of evangelism and these truncated and bastardized versions of the gospel floating around today… b. People are still, by the grace of God, coming to Christ. People are still sharing the gospel to save people from hell rather than to please God. It is a great humanitarian effort rather than an act of worship and obedience. c. They still take the message of praying a magic prayer and that somehow changing you. And yet – people still come to Christ through that. d. Is that proof that Paul is wrong in this passage? e. No my friends. That is proof that God is abundantly gracious. f. In Philippians Paul comments on a group of preachers who are going around and accurately preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. But they are doing it to make money, gain popularity, and steal popularity from Paul. g. Do you know what Paul's comments are on this? h. He praises God that the gospel still goes out despite these wicked motives. i. How can this be? How can the message get garbled, the methods be odious, and the motives be wicked and people still receive Christ? j. Friends have we forgotten already? k. Answer me these questions so I know you haven't forgotten! l. Who does the gospel belong to? And whose power is in the gospel? Who gives the results of the gospel? m. Yes… God alone. n. If God can use disobedient and delinquent preachers to call His people to Himself… I'm sure He can use your bumbling words to save His own too. o. It doesn't give us an excuse to not be as zealous and accurate as we can be… but it does give us comfort that we can't prevent, by our weakness, who God is drawing to Himself in His strength. It doesn't work that way. p. And finally – we've talked a lot about the gospel this morning. Around it mostly. What does this text teach us about the gospel message? 5.) [Slide 18] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” The gospel is not a talking point of which you need to be convinced. The gospel is the power of God to take something dead and make it alive. a. The definition of what is a Christian is a fairly muddled mess today. b. Many people simply assign it to a particular religious affiliation. c. It is an organization. It is an identity. d. It is interesting to me that some who would complain about a woman identifying as a man yet looking nothing like a man, have no problem identifying as a Christian yet looking nothing like Christ. e. We see Christianity as another religion in a long list of religions. Even if it is the one that makes the most sense or lines up with our values – when we do this, the gospel is little more than the elevator pitch to join the movement. f. It is the marketing mechanism to get butts into the pews. g. It is the talking point to join at the grass roots. h. Because the gospel is misunderstood or misarticulated in this way, it is possible to convince people in their heads of the truth of the gospel without them actually getting a new heart from God and receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ. i. My friends the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified for sinners, risen, and coming again is not a sales pitch. It isn't a talking point. It isn't the path to getting in on the ground floor. j. In fact, it isn't a mechanism that you can access by any human means. k. The gospel is something that happens to you more than it is something that you do. You don't go and get the gospel… it falls in your lap and you receive it. l. You can intellectually understand the Jesus died on a cross for sinners and rose again the third day and is coming again. But until God closes the loop for you and you realize that i. YOU are the sinner who rebelled against a Holy God ii. You are the one Christ came and was tortured, bloodied, bruised, ripped open, spilled out, hung up and asphyxiated for. iii. YOUR Sins are the ones that Christ endured the cup of wrath from God for iv. You are the dead one that Christ's resurrection promises life for v. You are the one He has entrusted His Work to. vi. You are the one who will suffer for His name vii. You are the one that will live a holy life viii. You are the one who will be saved one day by His return ix. You are the one who will reign with him in the New Kingdom... m. Until GOD DOES THIS IN YOU… you are still dead in your sins. n. In short, there is a difference between knowing the facts of the gospel… and experiencing them. o. So, has God made you experience these truths this morning? Then I'd invite you to repent of your wickedness before Him. And trust that He has done this… For you. p. And would you tell an Elder, myself or another, that you have experienced His gospel today? We'd love to rejoice with you and guide you on your next steps. [Slide 19 (end)] Let me close with a prayer from the Puritan Joseph Alleine. For those who do not know you yet, Lord, grab on to them now, and do your work. Take them by the heart, overcome them, and persuade them, until they say, "You have won. You are stronger than I." Lord, did you not make me a fisher of men? We have worked all this time and caught nothing. Have we spent our strength for nothing? We will cast our net one more time. Lord Jesus, stand on the shore and show us how and where to spread our net. Give us the words to enclose the souls YOU seek, that they will have no way out. Now, Lord, for a multitude of souls. Now for a full portion. Lord God, remember us, we pray, and strengthen us, O God. Amen. Benediction: May the One who sent His Son with power to save From guilt, and darkness and the grave, Whose ways are mercy and truth; May He never stop doing you good; May He inspire you to fear Him so that you will never turn aside from Him. Until we meet again, go in peace.

In this episode of The Kirk Effect, Representative David Eastman of the Alaska state legislature and I discuss his experience of attending the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. The memorial service lasted for over five hours, was attended by hundreds of thousands, and raised a lot of questions about the interaction of American Christianity with politics.As a Christian who serves in an elected office, Rep. Eastman has some great insight on how to live and work at that intersection of faith and politics, and provides some helpful ways of thinking about how these two core elements of American life interact.Subscribe to Tim Talks Politics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for the full show notes (30% off for podcast listeners)!

For over a century, American Christianity has been shaped by fear—fear of losing power, fear of being wrong, fear of outsiders. But what if that fear has distorted the way we see God, the Bible, and even each other?In this message, Pastor Cory traces how American fundamentalism took root, how it still shapes our instincts today, and how Jesus offers a better way—a faith not rooted in control, but in trust.Because as John wrote, “Perfect love drives out fear.”

Dan is off this week. So we are pleased to bring you a feature from our new limited series American Unexceptionalism: Global Lessons on Fighting Religious Nationalism with Dr. Matthew Taylor and Rev. Susan Hayward. South Korea is a nation that is deeply entwined with the United States. From the Korean War (which never technically ended) to Korean pop culture to the deep ties between Korean and American evangelical communities, what happens in the US affects South Korea and vice versa. But most Americans weren't paying attention to the fact that Korean democracy was startlingly challenged less than a year ago when the president at the time (President Yoon) declared martial law and tried to have his political enemies arrested. That attempt at autocratic takeover was unsuccessful, because Koreans took to the streets to protest and even Yoon's own party helped overturn his martial law decision and then impeach him. What can we in the United States learn from Korean activists and religious communities about how to resist wannabe tyrants? We get help on this question from two of the foremost experts on the interchanges between Korean religion and American religion: Helen J. Kim and Ray Kim. Additional Resources https://helenjinkim.com/ Home - International Center for Religion & Diplomacy - International Center for Religion & Diplomacy Helen J. Kim, Race for Revival: How Cold War South Korea Shaped the American Evangelical Empire (New York: Oxford University Press, 2022), https://global.oup.com/academic/product/race-for-revival-9780190062422. Paul Y. Chang, Protest Dialectics: State Repression and South Korea's Democracy Movement, 1970-1979 (Redwood City, CA: Stanford University Press, 2015), https://www.sup.org/books/asian-studies/protest-dialectics.  Chanhee Ho, “Charlie Kirk Memorial in Seoul Shows Power of Christian Nationalism for Young Korean Activists,” Religion Dispatches, September 30, 2025, https://religiondispatches.org/charlie-kirk-memorial-in-seoul-shows-power-of-christian-nationalism-for-young-korean-activists/. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation. Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace's efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Funded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Granger and AntMan dive into one of the most debated topics in American Christianity today — Christian nationalism. The phrase is used everywhere, but few agree on what it actually means. Is it simply loving your country, or is it trying to merge faith and politics into one? Granger and AntMan unpack the confusion by looking at the history, definitions, and different viewpoints surrounding the movement. As they talk through how patriotism can cross the line into idolatry, Granger reflects on his own story — from singing songs about America to learning what it means to put Christ above every national or political identity. Together, they explore how cultural pride, fear, and comfort can quietly pull believers away from the gospel, even when the intentions seem good. Throughout the episode, the conversation stays grounded in Scripture. Granger and AntMan remind listeners that God’s kingdom isn’t tied to a flag or a political system, and that Christians are called to live with humility and love in whatever nation they’re placed. It’s an honest and needed discussion about faith, country, and where our true allegiance belongs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John West’s Stockholm Syndrome Christianity and Joe Rigney’s The Sin of Empathy both look at problems in American Christianity today. In this episode recorded at the Equipping the Saints Conference in Tacoma, Washington, Glenn interviews them about their books and how we can avoid some of the problems they address. Order John West’s Stockholm Syndrome Christianity: https://stockholmsyndromechristianity.com/ Order Joe Rigney’s The Sin of Empathy: https://canonpress.com/products/the-sin-of-empathy?srsltid=AfmBOooIuCv1xXIHvui4dPKjiWuwE2npYqnW12J1uC9bb86VBOyEQegm Support the Theology Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8 Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/ Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

John West's Stockholm Syndrome Christianity and Joe Rigney's The Sin of Empathy both look at problems in American Christianity today. In this episode recorded at the Equipping the Saints Conference in Tacoma, Washington, Glenn interviews them about their books and how we can avoid some of the problems they address.Order John West's Stockholm Syndrome Christianity: https://stockholmsyndromechristianity.com/Order Joe Rigney's The Sin of Empathy: https://canonpress.com/products/the-sin-of-empathy?srsltid=AfmBOooIuCv1xXIHvui4dPKjiWuwE2npYqnW12J1uC9bb86VBOyEQegmSupport the Theology Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

John West’s Stockholm Syndrome Christianity and Joe Rigney’s The Sin of Empathy both look at problems in American Christianity today. In this episode recorded at the Equipping the Saints Conference in Tacoma, Washington, Glenn interviews them about their books and how we can avoid some of the problems they address. Order John West’s Stockholm Syndrome Christianity: https://stockholmsyndromechristianity.com/ Order Joe Rigney’s The Sin of Empathy: https://canonpress.com/products/the-sin-of-empathy?srsltid=AfmBOooIuCv1xXIHvui4dPKjiWuwE2npYqnW12J1uC9bb86VBOyEQegm Support the Theology Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8 Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/ Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

John West’s Stockholm Syndrome Christianity and Joe Rigney’s The Sin of Empathy both look at problems in American Christianity today. In this episode recorded at the Equipping the Saints Conference in Tacoma, Washington, Glenn interviews them about their books and how we can avoid some of the problems they address. Order John West’s Stockholm Syndrome Christianity: https://stockholmsyndromechristianity.com/ Order Joe Rigney’s The Sin of Empathy: https://canonpress.com/products/the-sin-of-empathy?srsltid=AfmBOooIuCv1xXIHvui4dPKjiWuwE2npYqnW12J1uC9bb86VBOyEQegm Support the Theology Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8 Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/ Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

How Are Cultural Shifts Making Evangelical Trends Look Like Revival? Good Faith "founding friend" David French joins Curtis Chang for a powerful conversation on revival, revolution, and the future of American Christianity. Together they explore whether today's supposed spiritual movements signal a genuine renewal of faith or a political realignment within evangelical culture. From Gen Z's shifting beliefs to the rise of MAGA Christianity, they unpack the tension between true repentance and political identity. David and Curtis offer fresh insight into how Christians can pursue authentic spiritual growth while navigating a deeply divided cultural landscape. (02:58) - What is happening in American Christianity? (06:36) - It's Complicated: Mistaking Revolution For Revival (09:35) - What Does Revival Look Like? (12:11) - Revival vs. Revolutionary Christianity (20:09) - Empathy and Struggling With Sin Together (29:11) - Religious and Political Realignment in America (39:45) - Religious Realignment in American Churches Join The After Party Send Campfire Stories to: info@redeemingbabel.org Donate to Redeeming Babel Mentioned In This Episode: David French's article Something Is Stirring in Christian America, and It's Making Me Nervous Barna Research: Young Adults Lead a Resurgence in Church Attendance Tim Keller's article 'Lord, Do It Again': Tim Keller on Revival (The Gospel Coalition) Tim Keller's message A Biblical Theology of Revival Read Acts 2:14-47 (ESV) - Peter preaches from Joel and repentance breaks out Read Isaiah 6 (ESV) - Isaiah's call and commission George Whitefield and the 1727 The Great Awakening What was the Azusa Street Revival? (Christian Union America) Kevin Brown's article What the Asbury Revival Taught Me About Gen Z (Christianity Today) What is Seven Mountain Dominionism? What is Catholic Integralism? Differing Opinions: Is Empathy A Sin? Some Conservative Christians Argue It Can Be (PBS) Rodney Stark The Rise of Christianity: A Sociologist Reconsiders History (PBS) Read Romans 5:1-11 (ESV) - Peace with God through faith Listen: Good Faith episode 30 Russell Moore discusses why "crazy as a church growth strategy" is not the way of Jesus Ryan Burge: What About White Evangelicals Who Aren't Conservative? More From David French: David French's New York Times pieces HERE Follow David French on Threads Follow Us: Good Faith in Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook Sign up: Redeeming Babel Newsletter The Good Faith Podcast is a production of Redeeming Babel, a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Redeeming Babel.

Will There Be a Christian Super Bowl Halftime Show? … GUEST Kelsey Kramer McGinnis … worship correspondent for Christianity Today … coauthor of “The Myth of Good Christian Parenting” and writes broadly on Christian music and the intersection of American Christianity and popular culture. A Biblical Response to the Immigration Crisis … GUEST Dr Richard Gamble … professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS), Point Breeze. The Way of the Prophet … GUEST Rev Terry Timm … Christ Community Church of the South HillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preacher: Michael Foster, Text: Matthew 16:13-20 

In this powerful sermon, Pastor Jamey Bridges challenges the modern church with a sobering message from Revelation 3 about spiritual complacency. Through the lens of the ancient Laodicean church—wealthy but spiritually lukewarm—he masterfully connects their struggle to today's American Christianity. Drawing on the vivid imagery of lukewarm water in Laodicea, Pastor Jamey warns against the dangerous comfort zone where believers claim to love Jesus while living like the world. Yet his message pivots to hope, emphasizing Jesus' invitation to spiritual renewal through repentance. With compelling insights about the enemy's schemes of distraction, deception, and division, he reminds us that we don't fight for victory but from victory through Christ. The sermon culminates in a stirring call to action—to move beyond comfortable Christianity, surrender fully to God's plan, and share our testimonies boldly, knowing we are overcomers through the blood of the Lamb.Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or YouTube.

American Christianity is under attack by Zionist frauds and their Shabbos Goy pastors, steering millions toward damnation. Andrew Swedeger ripped apart their lies and championed AZAPAC to restore faith and fight for America! Zionist billionaires and their puppet Donald Trump are trying to bury Thomas Massie for daring to put America first. AZAPAC is our battle cry to destroy their grip and restore our nation's soul! Dr. Michael Rectenwald joins Stew to discuss.   Western civilization has been infected by a parasitic invasion of foreign ideals and values that have been introduced into our culture by strange and morally degenerate people whose goal is world domination. We have been OCCUPIED. Watch the film NOW! https://stewpeters.com/occupied/ Stop the Tricks. $20 off for your first year. The government's tricking you, but we're treating you with real information and big savings. Sign up today and don't miss what they don't want you to know.

In this episode of the Give Me Liberty podcast, host Ryan discusses the impact of COVID-19 on community dynamics, personal experiences with protests and arrests, and the importance of fighting back against tyranny with Gabriel Rench. The conversation delves into the role of the church in society, critiques of compassionate conservatism, and the need for principled governance. The speakers emphasize the importance of courage within the church and the necessity of reclaiming the kingdom of God in America, while also reflecting on the historical context of American Christianity and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 experience.

In this discussion, Stephen and I explore some of the early evidence of a possible “Charlie Kirk effect” on the growth of Christianity in America and discuss the upsides and downsides of using statistical data to try to understand what's happening in American Christianity in the wake of Kirk's death.From the broad social implications of Kirk's work and assassination, Stephen and I pivot to discussing how a society should remember public figures after they've died and what the shape and tone of that discussion says about the relative health of our body politic. We close the conversation on the virtues of courage and friendship and how Charlie Kirk provides an excellent example of those virtues in action.Subscribe to Tim Talks Politics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for the full show notes (30% off for podcast listeners)!

“There are some things that only time can do. Dynamite can't touch them.”– Dwight D. EisenhowerIn The Scandals of the Kingdom, Dallas Willard names a profound tension between the person of Jesus and the dilemma of modern American Christianity. We spend vast sums of money and energy trying to get people into church. Meanwhile, in the Gospels, people tore the roofs off buildings just to get to Jesus. So much so, He often withdrew from the crowds—not to perform, but to be with His Father and to invest in a few trusted apprentices.Jesus was the most consecrated King who ever lived. And yet, while we strive to build platforms and leverage influence, He chose obscurity and intimacy and consented to the slow and steady work of His Father in the lives entrusted to his care.So we must ask ourselves: Why do we find Him hiding from crowds in places where we keep striving to be seen?If we are willing to be honest with both this longing to be seen and the desire to see immediate results for the fruit of our labors, we can access a precious part of us that becomes a fresh doorway to return home to the heart of God.This episode concludes a deeper cut series—an excavation of the foundational ideas unearthed through Becoming a King. At its core, we've been exploring a central, piercing question: How do we become the kind of men to whom God can entrust His power?Let me remind you—this path was never promised to be easy. But I can assure you: it is profoundly worth it.Over time, a compelling pattern emerges. Through the consent by day and by decade to the narrow road of deep apprenticeship, transformation is no longer just a hope—it becomes a lived reality. I see it in the stories, again and again, from men being led by God into deeper wholeness and restoration through Becoming a King.What once felt like a headwind—marked by adversity, resistance, and battle—in time becomes a tailwind. The strength and care of a good Father, ever present, begins to nourish and sustain us.A Father who is for us, not against us. Having committed Himself to our well-being, He relentlessly pours Himself into our shepherding and our apprenticeship.He is our tailwind. And even in our trials, in the end, we will encounter His exceeding kindness.In this episode, we conclude this conversation with some compelling ideas, questions, and stories from Outposts of Eden around the globe, thanks to the strength lent by allies John Scott Mooring, Pablo Ceron, Ryan Ruebsahm, and Chris Rice.Together, we're looking deeper into the kind of King that Jesus is, and I want you to join us.It's all been prologue. The best is yet to come.For the Kingdom,Morgan and Cherie

Preacher: Michael Foster, Text: Matthew 16:13-20 

Send us a textMy friend and podcast partner, Ken Fong is back from his honeymoon. We're here for another lively edition of The Two Kens. This week, we're unpacking the fallout from what some are calling a “Third Great Awakening,” sparked by the recent Charlie Kirk memorial and the movement he inspired.We'll dive into the headlines—from The Atlantic and Religion News Service to Mother Jones and Wired—and trace how faith, politics, and power are merging in America's latest culture war. We'll explore the New Apostolic Reformation's push to “Christianize the Seven Mountains,” from Wall Street to Hollywood, and what CBS's Andrew Ross Sorkin says about eerie echoes of 1929.Satruday, October 18, I'm off to the NO KINGS protest.Some say this movement is a revival. Others call it a takeover. We say—it's time to talk about it. Join us for an honest, wide-ranging conversation that connects the dots between the headlines, history, and what's happening right now in our churches, schools, and politics.Support the showBecome a Patron - Click on the link to learn how you can become a Patron of the show. Thank you! Ken's Substack Page The Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com

For much of the twentieth century, evangelicals and Latter-day Saints occupied distinct corners of American Christianity—yet in recent decades, they've often found themselves aligned politically. In this episode of Dialogue Unbound, host Margaret Olsen Hemming… The post Strange Bedfellows: Evangelicals, Mormons, and the Politics of Power — A Conversation with Benjamin Park and Nicholas Shrum appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

This was a conversation with Heath Carter, historian and author of Union Made: Working People and the Rise of Social Christianity in Chicago. Heath walked us through his journey from growing up in evangelical Orange County to discovering a working-class theological tradition that has been largely erased from our collective memory. We explored how the social gospel wasn't born in elite seminaries but was hammered out by workers quoting scripture in union halls, threatening to leave churches that sided with their bosses, and forcing institutional Christianity to reckon with inequality. Heath traced how both Protestant and Catholic churches went from being uniformly anti-labor in the late 1800s to embracing living wages and collective bargaining by the New Deal era—not because theologians had brilliant insights, but because grassroots pressure made it pragmatically and theologically untenable to ignore the labor question. We discussed why this tradition was gutted in the late 20th century, what UAW President Sean Fain's evangelical faith reveals about what's still possible, and whether democracy can survive when we continually compromise democratic values for market demands. Heath reminded us that 1877 was also a catastrophically bad year in American history, but out of that devastation came movements that actually changed things—not through perfect strategies or ideological purity, but through small, faithful acts and found solidarity that transformed institutional incentives. It's a story we desperately need to remember right now. Heath W. Carter is associate professor of American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he teaches and writes about the intersection of Christianity and American public life. Carter is the author of Union Made: Working People and the Rise of Social Christianity in Chicago, which was the runner-up for the American Society of Church History's 2015 Brewer Prize. He is also the co-editor of three books: The Pew and the Picket Line: Christianity and the American Working Class, Turning Points in the History of American Evangelicalism, and A Documentary History of Religion in America, 4th Ed. ONLINE CLASS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The God of Justice: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Contemporary Longing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join John Dominic Crossan, Peter Enns, Casey Sigmon, Aizaiah Yong, & Malcolm Foley As always, the class is donation-based, including 0. INFO & Sign-Up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.FaithAndPolitics.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is a unique three-day conference that brings together of theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get info and tickets here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. _____________________ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Preacher: Michael Foster, Text: Matthew 16:13-20 

Good news, Christian: You don't have to live in defeat! Even though sin seems to be accepted in American Christianity, Romans 6–8 shows this was never God's plan. In the final message from our recent special meetings, Dr. John Oswalt unpacks this passage to show that, for all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ, the truth is clear: You can live in victory!   Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

The Patriarchy Podcast | Islam in Middle America: Why the Church Must Wake Up & Fight Islam is no longer just a distant religion in faraway lands—it’s here. In Jeffersonville, Indiana. In your town. In your children’s schools. And in this episode, Pastor Joseph Spurgeon tackles the growing Islamic presence in the heart of middle America, exposing it as the aggressive cult it truly is. Pastor Spurgeon shares his firsthand encounter with Muslims outside a gas station near a mosque that used to be a church. He breaks down Islam’s history, its core heresies, and the cowardice of American Christianity that’s allowed it to spread. He doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t sugarcoat. And he calls Christian men to stand firm. This episode is about clarity, courage, and Christ. The fight is here—are you ready? Topics Covered: ✅ Why Islam is a cult, not a “world religion” ✅ How mosques are replacing dying churches—even in middle America ✅ Why feminized Christianity leaves a vacuum Islam gladly fills ✅ What the Crusades got right (and what we can learn from them) ✅ How weak theology makes Christians vulnerable to Islamic deception ✅ Why knowing the Trinity isn’t optional—it’s warfare ✅ How to prepare your family and church to resist Islamic influence ✅ The false gospel of Muhammad and why it's antichrist ✅ What Christians MUST do now—before it’s too late Don’t just listen—learn to stand. This isn’t about fear. It’s about faith. Islam will not win. Christ is King. Chapters: 00:00 – A Gas Station, a Bible, and Two Muslims in Robes02:00 – Islam Isn’t There Anymore. It’s Here.04:30 – The Mosque That Used to Be a Church07:00 – The Danger of Christians Who Can’t Explain the Trinity11:00 – Islam in Louisville, Jeffersonville, and Your Backyard15:00 – Muhammad: History of a False Prophet22:00 – How Islam Took Over by Immigration and Birthrates26:00 – Why the Quran Reads Like a Cult Manual32:00 – How Christians Must Respond38:00 – Don’t Be a Scholar of Islam—Be a Master of Scripture43:00 – Final Charge to Christian Men Support the MissionWe’re raising funds to expand Sovereign King Academy and keep tuition affordable for families. Want to invest in the future of Christ’s Kingdom?

In this episode, I sit down with author and poet Kaitlin Curtice to explore the ways stories shape our lives and communities. Drawing from her new book Everything Is a Story, Kaitlin reflects on the narratives that formed her growing up, the Indigenous wisdom that grounds her, and the liminal spaces where transformation takes place. We talk about cyclical and linear storytelling, the role of art and poetry in healing, and how interfaith relationships and community can help us move beyond fear and division. This conversation invites us to honor the stories we carry, let go of those that wound, and imagine new ones that lead us into kinship, belonging, and hope.Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships. Kaitlin leads workshops and retreats, as well as lectures and keynote presentations, ranging from panels at the Aspen Climate Conference to speaking at the Chautauqua Institution and at universities, private retreat centers, and churches across the country. In 2020 Kaitlin's award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God won Georgia Author of the Year in the religion category. Native explores the relationship between American Christianity and Indigenous peoples, drawing on Kaitlin's experiences as a Potawatomi woman.In 2023, Kaitlin released two books, first, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, which examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth, and second, her first children's book called Winter's Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature, which is the premier book in a series of four books on the four seasons coming out with Convergent, RandomHouse Books. Her second book in the series called Summer's Magic was released in 2024.Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes essays and poetry for The Liminality Journal and spends her time supporting other authors as they navigate the world of publishing. Kaitlin lives near Philadelphia with her partner, two dogs, and two kids.Kaitlin's Book:Everything is a StoryKaitlin's Recommendations:Care of the SoulThe Works of John O'DonahueSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or Contact me to advertise: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.com Support the show

American Christianity needs to wake up.In this episode, John and Arden Bevere issue a powerful challenge, drawing parallels between the church of Sardis in Revelation and today's Christian culture. They show how small compromises with culture can lead to spiritual slumber. They challenge listeners to return to their first love, stay alert, and keep their hearts pure. Do you want to grow closer to God and be ready for Christ's return? Listen now in part 3 of their conversation.______________________________________FREE Show Notes Here: https://page.church.tech/0360f43d______________________________________Support this podcast by becoming a Patron here (tax-deductible): https://3szn.short.gy/JBgive 

In this episode of the Westminster Effects Doxology Podcast, Cody Fields, Bradley Cox, and Stan Fields reflect on the recent passing of influential Christian leaders, particularly Voddie Baucham. They discuss Baucham impact on American Christianity, his teaching style, and the legacy he leaves behind. The conversation also touches on the importance of grieving faithful saints, the future of pastoral leadership, and the need for new voices in the church. The hosts emphasize the significance of learning from these leaders while recognizing their imperfections, ultimately encouraging listeners to remain faithful in their own callings.Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠X⁠.Join the discussion at the Westminster Effects Green Room.Buy your guitar effects at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠westminstereffects.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The untimely death of Charlie Kirk has sent waves of grief and reflection across the American landscape, placing the intersection of faith and public life center stage. In this episode of The Lancaster Patriot, Chris Hume offers five essential biblical guideposts for Christians navigating the conversation surrounding Kirk's public memorial service and the state of Christianity in American conservatism. While celebrating the powerful public witness and proclamation of the Gospel at the service, we also need to apply necessary biblical discernment, asking: What does this event reveal about the depth and focus of modern American Christianity? Is the movement truly centered on the Law-Word of God, or human principles?

Jon Harris, Pastor Scott Harris, Andrew Rappaport, Danny Steinmeyer, and Tim Bushong remember the ministry of Voddie Baucham including personal stories and the significance of his life and ministry.Our Sponsors:* Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code HARRIS for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Charlie Kirk's assassination and the contrasting responses at his memorial service—his widow's radical forgiveness versus calls for political warfare—reveal the collision between authentic Gospel witness and civil religion in American Christianity. Our culture's addiction to immediate mobilisation after tragedy robs us of the contemplative space necessary for genuine transformation, replacing the narrow path of forgiveness with the broad highway of tribal retaliation.

Subscribe for $40 for the ENTIRE YEAR! to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 850-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this episode, we explore the recent memorial service for Charlie Kirk, which turned into a significant event for Christian nationalists. We delve into the themes of American identity fused with Christian practice, the hagiographic portrayal of Charlie Kirk, and the reaction of various political and religious figures. From the involvement of Trump and his administration to the divisive rhetoric of speakers like Stephen Miller and Tucker Carlson, this episode highlights the ongoing struggle between different visions of American Christianity and nationalism. We also touch upon the contrasting views on forgiveness vs. hatred within the MAGA movement and the broader implications for the nation. 00:00 Introduction to Charlie Kirk's Memorial 00:44 Defining Christian Nationalism 01:25 Hagiography of Charlie Kirk 05:09 The Saint of MAGA Nation 08:26 Forgiveness and Vengeance 16:46 Christian Nationalism vs. Big Evangelicalism 23:13 Stephen Miller's Speech and Its Implications 28:42 Tucker Carlson's Controversial Remarks 39:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful continuation episode, Pastor Nate Brown and Pastor Daniel Hayworth explore the profound spiritual impact of Charlie Kirk's death and memorial service. Hear how over 4,000 people came to faith during the memorial - surpassing even Pentecost - and why this moment represents a critical turning point for American Christianity.You'll Learn:✅ The three roles Charlie served: prophet to leaders, evangelist to millions, and apologist for faith✅ How Vice President J.D. Vance publicly repented for not sharing his faith✅ Why Charlie's widow's act of forgiveness is breaking spiritual strongholds nationwide✅ Christ's urgent warning to lukewarm churches from Revelation 3Listen as the pastors share firsthand accounts of revival breaking out across their churches, with over 190 baptisms in recent weeks. Perfect for your commute or workout as you process what God is doing in this historic moment.New episodes release Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 AM CT. Subscribe now to equip yourself with biblical confidence for real-world battles.

The church is so much more than a building—but when it comes to managing the physical property of church real estate, we often overlook the great good that can emerge from the land and structures. In this episode, social entrepreneur, strategic executive, and author Mark Elsdon joins Mark Labberton on Conversing to explore how churches and faith communities can reimagine their assets—land, buildings, and money—as instruments for mission, community transformation, and spiritual flourishing. From his decades of work at Pres House in Madison, Wisconsin, to his role as consultant, author, and co-leader of RootedGood, Elsdon shares stories of innovation, courage, and the hard but hopeful work of repurposing property and resources for God's mission in the world. Episode Highlights “It isn't about property, nor is it about money. It's about people's lives and it's about God's work in people's lives.” “We often have the faith of our forebears in the church. But the question is, do we have the courage of them?” “I don't think God's going away. I don't think God's declining. But the way people are engaging their faith is really changed and is changing.” “Sometimes I talk about this as like the Blockbuster Video moment… People still want experiences of the divine. They just don't want to access it primarily on a Sunday morning.” “Constraints can produce creativity and, in the life of faith, can also produce a willingness to trust.” Helpful Links and Resources Mark Elsdon's Website *We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry,* by Mark Elsdon *Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition,* by Mark Elsdon RootedGood - resources for congregations, judicatories, and other church leaders related to social enterprise and church property Good Futures Accelerator course How-To Guides Threshold Sacred Development - A mission-aligned property development company focused on supporting churches doing community-oriented development About Mark Elsdon Mark Elsdon lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, non-profit executive, author, and speaker. He is the author of We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry (2021) and editor of Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (2024). In addition to his role as a director with RootedGood, Mark is also executive director at Pres House, where he led the transformation of a dormant non-profit into a growing, vibrant, multi-million-dollar organization. Mark has a BA in psychology from the University of California–Berkeley, a master of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin School of Business. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark is an avid cyclist and considers it a good year when he rides more miles on his bike than he drives in his car. Show Notes Mark Elsdon reflects on thirty years of ministry, beginning with campus work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Launch of a $17 million student housing project that became a transformative ministry for thousands of students. Elsdon's discovery: “It isn't about property, nor is it about money. It's about people's lives and it's about God's work in people's lives.” Creation of a sober housing program at Pres House that has saved the state of Wisconsin more than a million dollars in addiction-related costs. Innovative blend of mission, ministry, and real estate development to foster student flourishing. The unique impact of housing students in recovery alongside the wider student population. Elsdon's MBA studies at UW–Madison and his calling at the intersection of money and mission. The “Blockbuster Video moment” for American Christianity: people still seek meaning, community, and transcendence, but not in traditional formats. Challenges churches face with aging buildings, declining attendance, and financial strain. How repurposing property reveals new opportunities for mission and ministry. RootedGood's “Good Futures” Accelerator course: helping churches rethink land, buildings, and resources for social enterprise and revenue generation. Example of two congregations in Madison merging to create an environmentally sustainable multifamily housing project and community center. Redefining church property as community space: “flipping the script” so the building belongs to the neighborhood, with the church as anchor tenant. Courage, risk-taking, and letting go of past models are essential for churches to reimagine their future. The critical role of pastoral and lay leadership in sparking change and vision. Storytelling as central to church renewal: “We often have the faith of our forebears in the church. But the question is, do we have the courage of them?” Learning from the pandemic: every church has the capacity for innovation and adaptation. Honouring grief and loss while embracing resurrection hope in church property transitions. Example from San Antonio: members resisted redevelopment until their need for funerals in the sanctuary was acknowledged—turning “either/or” into “both/and.” Affordable housing crisis intersects directly with church land opportunities. Turner Center study: California churches and colleges hold land equal to five Oaklands suitable for affordable housing development. Elsdon warns against cookie-cutter “models” and emphasizes local context, story, and creativity. Forecast: up to 100,000 church properties in the US may be sold or repurposed in the next decade. Elsdon's hope: more repurposing than selling, with land and buildings becoming assets for life-giving mission. The value of constraints: “Constraints can produce creativity and, in the life of faith, can also produce a willingness to trust.” Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.  

Well hey there, hello to ya today. Welcome to this special episode of The Burt (Not Ernie) Show, the podcast that takes God at His word, encourages listeners as they walk with the Lord, and boldly proclaims that all God's promises prove true. This is something of a re-launch of the podcast, as I have not recorded a new episode in about five months.  A lot of varying reasons for the long break, but now the show is back. So, let's jump right in!   We're living in an era when believers need a whole lot of encouragement, and when those who are considering Christianity want an honest look at what it means to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus. This episode is aimed at both of those goals. Followers and curious seekers alike. Let me read from the New Testament book of Luke, chapter 13, about four verses. Starting in verse 23, through verse 28. I'm reading from the Amplified Bible, so you can compare it to your preferred translation or read along in your Bible or in case you want to make note of different translations and versions and do some Bible study on this passage later on. All of those are really good things, by the way. Don't just take someone's word for it when it comes to what the Bible says, and of course that includes me. Read it for yourself anytime you want to, fact check me like crazy. Let God be true and every man, every woman, every person be a liar, Romans 3 verse 4 says. When it comes to teaching the Bible, we should be very comfortable having our sources checked. If anyone teaching God's word is not comfortable with that, something is very, very wrong. And in those situations, you may want to … run. (Not really kidding around with that advice.)    Here's what this passage says, verbatim, in the Amplified Bible:   Luke 13:23-27 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition 23 And someone asked Him, Lord, will only a few be saved (rescued, delivered from the penalties of the last judgment, and made partakers of the salvation by Christ)? And He said to them, 24 Strive to enter by the narrow door [force yourselves through it], for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door [again and again], saying, Lord, open to us! He will answer you, I do not know where [[a]what household—certainly not Mine] you come from. 26 Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets. 27 But He will say, I tell you, I do not know where [[b]what household—certainly not Mine] you come from; depart from Me, all you wrongdoers!   Okay, so if you're not familiar with the Amplified Bible, it is wordy. Because the Greek and the Hebrew of the New and Old Testaments often carry a depth of meaning in each word that is tricky to fully convey in the English language, different translations word things differently. The Amplified basically takes all the meanings of the text in the original language and adds them, usually in parentheses, which is why what I just read to you may have sounded choppy. Also, the Amplified capitalizes words like He, Him, Mine, etc. when it is talking about the Lord. And there are a few capitalized words in the text I just read.  Were I to leave out those extra words that are in parenthesis, it would read like this: And someone asked Him (that's a capital, so someone asked Jesus this question.) Lord, will only a few be saved. And He said to them, Strive to enter by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the Master (and that is capitalized, so it's talking about the Lord) of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open up to us! He will answer you, I do not know where you come from. Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets. But He will say (again, He is capitalized, so the Lord will say), I tell you I do not know where you come from; depart from Me, all you wrongdoers!    This is weighty. This is no joke. Jesus' answer to the question He was asked is heavy. This is serious stuff! “Will only a few be saved?” was the question. The ESV says, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” Kind of a yes or no question. But Jesus was so good to expound upon this, to go beyond the short answer and give us all this important information as His answer. Now, back to studying the Amplified (and yes, it does require studying. Not sure when Bible “study”, in air quotes, began to not be studious. Study, the word tells us that it takes some effort, focus, and intention. If your Bible study group is not studying the Bible, you could be a person to kind of change that, to step off the merry-go-round of quick and easy answers, making a joke instead of really digging into the text, leading a group that goes through the Bible and studies it rather than maybe a small group that gets gossipy and talks about fashion and somewhat trashy shows on streaming. Y'all know what I'm talking about, and if you are new to Christianity and are shocked that I'm saying this, that's okay. A faith that can't hold up to some examination is, well, perhaps more cult-like than faith-in-Jesus like. Women's small groups are notorious for not doing enough actual Bible studying. New believers, keep searching for groups that do real Bible study and if you can't find a group, start a group.) So as we study this text in the Amplified, we find the Greek for the word saved in verse 23 has some depth to it. Lord, will only a few be saved? Rescued, delivered from the penalties of the last judgment, made partakers of the salvation by Christ. Yeah, a lot more depth there. This is about the very end of time, the last judgment. And that day, it's coming for all of us. If we say we love Jesus but we live like we're never going to stand before Him and have our lives examined, then we're probably not living for Him in our everyday lives. And notice it says made partakers of THE salvation by Christ. That little three letter word T-H-E…there is only one salvation and it is by Christ. That is almost certainly the most important thing I will ever say on the podcast, honestly. When it says strive to enter by the narrow door, the Amplified gives added depth by saying force yourself through it. Force yourself through the narrow door, the doorway to eternal salvation. Force yourself through it! Maybe, just maybe, this concept of raising your hand from your seat during a mega-conference altar call and then never opening your Bible, spending time in prayer, following Jesus as His disciple, just maybe that is nothing like forcing yourself through the narrow door. You know, we live in the very era when Jesus' return is at hand, and forcing ourselves through the narrow door that makes us partakers of THE salvation by Christ is the clarion call for this hour. Now is the time, my friend. This decision for Jesus should not be put off until another day. It shouldn't be put off for another hour! This is the time!  In this passage, when Jesus describes them knocking at the door again and again, like they are trying to beat that door down, the same narrow door that they did not force themselves through when they had the opportunity, trying to gain entry by incessant pounding on that door…and what will He say on that day? How will He respond to their knocking again and again? He'll say He does not know where they come from - from what household, because it's certainly not His. That's repeated twice, in verses 25 & 27. And in between, in verse 26, they implore Him by stating that they ate and drank in His presence…oh this is very convicting. How often are we “in His presence” and thinking that's good enough? They'll say, “You taught in our streets.” Is it going to get Him to open the door if you remind Him that He was taught about in your local church? Think about what this passage means for your own life. Are you ready for this day? Because it's coming, ready or not. I've said before that we need to get ready, be ready, and stay ready. Force yourself through that narrow door. Be on the inside when He shuts that door tight.    Just a few more thought I'd like to share on Luke chapter 13.  Verse 23 makes it super clear that this is about where a person will spend eternity. How many people in the year 2025 never even give a single thought to their eternal destination? We've been so desensitized, so conditioned to only think about this life, the here and now, focus on immediate gains, quick fixes, the current struggle and how to make that struggle end, and our own selves and “living in the moment” that thinking about forever does not really happen for so many people. Are you living for the moment, or are you living for forever? Does anyone stand on their platform, or ask their loved ones, if they know for certain they will be rescued, delivered from the penalties of the last judgment, made partakers of the salvation by Christ? Do I do that? Lord, what do You want to change in my heart, mind and life so that my focus turns from the temporal to the eternal, and so that I speak life - eternal life - over others?    Jesus' reply here,  and He minces no words, as was His norm, is: “Strive to enter by the narrow door”. I'm hitting on this again to share something that is important. The definition of strive is to “make great efforts to achieve or obtain something” - “struggle or fight vigorously”. It implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort. Synonyms include “labor, toil, struggle, compete, exert oneself, and endeavor”.  Even a quick evaluation of those words reveals the heart behind Jesus' answer to the critically important question asked by an unidentified person in the thirteenth chapter of Luke. The Lord is telling us that getting on and remaining on the narrow road is anything but easy-street. And yet, is that what American Christianity so often teaches? Don't they make it seem as if a five-second prayer is all it takes in order to enter into eternal life with Jesus (think of those “Every head bowed and eye closed, and raise your hand and pray along with me if you want to be saved today” kinds of church moments…). But what if that's not exactly true? What if that is, say, step one of a long walk on the narrow road? And if the door itself is narrow, and we must force ourselves through it, as the Amplified says in verse 24, is that happening for most of us? Are we being discipled, are we discipling anybody else, are we students of the Word of God, are we spending time in prayer and listening for what the Holy Spirit might say to us? Have we forced ourselves through that narrow door? Have we encouraged anyone else to force themselves through the narrow door? Do we know the signs of the times well enough to recognize that there are just a few grains of sand left in the hourglass of all time?    Let me read this to you: Luke 14:25-35 New Living Translation The Cost of Being a Disciple 25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.  28 “But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There's the person who started that building and couldn't afford to finish it!' 31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can't, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. 34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? 35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”   Have you thought of discipleship like this? That being Jesus' disciple means you hate everyone else by comparison? This is serious stuff. Far more intense than is normally spoken about by pastors or preachers or speakers or the books down at the Better Book Room (Wichitans, you remember the BBR?) Do we hate our own life in contrast to being His disciple? Thinking about these words of Jesus' is a good reset for me. Why am I so continually concerned about my issues, my fears, my life, my stuff? It's just gross, and it is not fitting for a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Because if I don't hate my own life by comparison to being His disciple, then I cannot be His disciple. Point blank frankness right there. And if I do not carry my own cross and follow Him, I cannot be His disciple. So, how am I doing at hating my own life by comparison to His discipleship and am I carrying my own cross and following Him? It's a self test we all need to take every day.  Jesus says not to begin the path of being His disciple until we count the cost. Shouldn't that be mentioned during the altar call? I don't exactly know what this should look like, in every church or at every event, but I know enough to know that most of what takes place absolutely does not fit the model Jesus laid out for us here. We're getting it all wrong! And if we tell people it's all good, you raised your hand and never forced yourself through the narrow door, never counted the cost, never hated your life, never picked up your cross to follow Him…we are lying to them! He says we cannot become His disciple without giving up everything we own. I no longer have ownership rights over my life or my stuff or my health or my money or over people. Because I've giving all that up to become His disciple. Salt is good for seasoning, Jesus says. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? How salty are you? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil or the manure pile. Am I salty or am I not? Lord, give us ears to hear, so that we can listen and understand! Am I a student, a learner of Jesus? Do I understand that it's more than a head nod, a hand raised decision to follow Him - it's more than saying yes to His invitation. It's picking up my cross and following Him after saying yes. It's moving onward with Him, it is not standing still while He moves onward.  Think about carrying your cross. I think, maybe here in western culture, we don't exactly get the implication. It's difficult. It costs us something, every day that we carry it. But where are we carrying it to? Where is this carrying of my cross leading me? To a crucifixion, that's the only logical end point. Am I crucifying my flesh? Am I dying to myself, daily, of my own willing choice and volition, of course depending on the Spirit of the Living God within me because no one can do that on their own, but am I willing, does it ever even cross my mind? Am I picking up my cross today, carrying the heavy and thing closer and closer to my own death to self? Or am I not? Anybody that ever said Jesus' teachings were easy, well, they need to read the words in red again. Taking up our cross is a one-way journey. It's forcing ourselves through that narrow door.  Jesus carried a cross, and so do His disciples, His followers.  What kind of follower am I? Am I following but ready to peel off and go my own way when it gets uncomfortable for me personally? Have I counted the cost and decided that yes, I really can afford to follow Jesus?  In the following, the Lord does the fixing and the cleaning up of our lives. This is not Jesus saying we need to get it together before we follow Him. He says what He says, and it's not that. He simply needs His followers to know it's not the easy way out, the life of Christians. But He'll do His work of making us new as we follow Him day by day. It's costly either way, right? Follow Jesus? There's a cost. Reject Jesus? Oh, there's also a cost. That choice, well, it costs a pretty penny. Let Him become the owner of all we have. Our children, our finances, our health, all of it. It's only safe with Him anyway, so it's the best available choice, but we still need to make the choice consciously, weighing it out, understanding it. Let's not be like slimy used car salesmen who get people to pick up what we're laying down based on implications that this is the easy way to live out your days and then, wham, the bottom falls out and they feel like they got sold a lemon.  And if you say you follow Jesus, you profess to follow Him, but you lose your flavor somewhere along the way…you are no longer distinct enough to be clearly known as one of His disciples, well, that's the time you're fit for nothing but to be thrown out. A Christian should look like, think like, speak like, behave like, have the nature of Christ. Salt ought to be salty. A Christian ought to be like Christ Jesus.    The promise in Luke 13 and 14 is so worth it, though, isn't it? It's eternal life for now and forever. It's being on the inside when the door is closed. It's knowing that life, it's going to be hard at times, especially as we get nearer to the return of Jesus, it's going to get more intense, and following Him with saltiness may come with some costs that are not common to us here in America, but are becoming common at an astounding rate. But the hard life that ends in death without Jesus, that's the wide road, the wide door. The road ends somewhere for all of us. It's His promise that by picking up our cross, carrying it daily as we follow Him, staying salty all the way until the end, we get to go through the narrow door. Carry your cross today. Force yourself through the narrow door. Because He'll keep all His promises, and what's coming is going to knock your socks off. “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” Those are Jesus' words to us in Matthew 24:13. Indeed, that's a promise He's going to keep.   Thanks for joining me for this re-launch episode. I'm so grateful to be back on the podcast, and if this encouraged you or challenged you, would you share it with someone today? Lord bless you, and I'll see ya back here next time. Bye bye.

In this episode of CrossPolitic, Gabe and Toby address the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk and deliver a wake-up call to the American church. They argue that the church has catastrophically failed in its duty as shepherds, receiving an "F minus" grade for allowing wolves to infiltrate education systems while pastors refuse to warn their congregations about the dangers of public schools. They critique the humanistic unity message being promoted in response to Kirk's murder, explaining how this false religion, which elevates humanity rather than God as the ultimate standard, actually breeds the very violence it claims to oppose. The conversation takes a hard turn toward biblical truth, with the hosts drawing from 2 Corinthians 6 to emphasize that there can be no unity between light and darkness, between Christ and those who hate Him. They challenge the "thou shalt be nice" mentality that has captured much of American Christianity, calling instead for believers to recognize the fundamental war between Christianity and humanism that has raged for over 150 years. Fight Laugh Feast School Wars Conference (October 16-18, Nashville) - Register HERE: https://flfnetwork.com

In this episode of CrossPolitic, Gabe and Toby address the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk and deliver a wake-up call to the American church. They argue that the church has catastrophically failed in its duty as shepherds, receiving an "F minus" grade for allowing wolves to infiltrate education systems while pastors refuse to warn their congregations about the dangers of public schools. They critique the humanistic unity message being promoted in response to Kirk's murder, explaining how this false religion, which elevates humanity rather than God as the ultimate standard, actually breeds the very violence it claims to oppose. The conversation takes a hard turn toward biblical truth, with the hosts drawing from 2 Corinthians 6 to emphasize that there can be no unity between light and darkness, between Christ and those who hate Him. They challenge the "thou shalt be nice" mentality that has captured much of American Christianity, calling instead for believers to recognize the fundamental war between Christianity and humanism that has raged for over 150 years. Fight Laugh Feast School Wars Conference (October 16-18, Nashville) - Register HERE: https://flfnetwork.com

What do we learn about white evangelicalism from those raised by its heroes? From historian Holly Berkley Fletcher, herself a missionary kid, comes this first-of-its-kind examination of how the experiences of missionary kids illuminate broader currents in American Christianity.

Join host Aaron Renn as he sits down with Caleb Morell, author of A Light on the Hill, to explore the rich history of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1878, this evangelical church, located just blocks from the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court, has remained steadfast in its theological convictions while navigating cultural, political, and social changes over 150 years. From its founding by Civil War veterans to its role in the fundamentalist-modernist controversy, urban challenges, and the revitalization under pastor Mark Dever, this episode uncovers what makes this church a unique case study in American Christianity. Learn how Capitol Hill Baptist has maintained its gospel-centered mission amidst D.C.'s evolving landscape, including its response to suburbanization, gentrification, and even a lawsuit against the city during COVID-19.CHAPTERS:(00:01 - Introduction)(00:24 - What Makes Capitol Hill Baptist Unique?)(03:33 - Founding and Early History (1878))(05:42 - Capsule Summary of the Church's History)(09:24 - The Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy)(14:56 - Suburbanization and Desegregation in the Mid-20th Century)(20:54 - Urban Planning and Parking Lot Disputes)(22:12 - Racial Integration and Social Engagement)(27:31 - The Marion Barry Era and Urban Violence)(32:13 - Mark Dever's Arrival and Church Revitalization)(35:50 - Gentrification and Its Impact)(38:38 - COVID-19 Lawsuit and Church Response)(41:38 - Commitment to Single-Service Gatherings)(45:09 - Political Engagement Over Time)(49:17 - The Importance of Institutions)(52:11 - Closing Remarks)CALEB MORELL'S LINKS:

So I had the chance to sit down with Elesha Coffman, who's written what might be the only book entirely devoted to the Christian Century magazine, and we ended up diving deep into the whole messy question of what "mainline Protestantism" even means - which apparently stumped two past presidents of the American Society of Church History during her dissertation defense, with the best answer being something about railroads in Philadelphia. We talked through her journey from Christianity Today to studying the Christian Century, how these magazines both spoke to and sometimes wildly misjudged their audiences (especially around Billy Graham), and the cultural capital that tied together mainline Protestant clergy even when their theology and politics diverged from their congregations. What struck me was how the isolation of educated clergy - whether it's the 1920s pastor in North Dakota parceling out his weekly dose of seminary culture through the Christian Century, or today's mainline clergy feeling lonely in their own congregations - keeps showing up as this recurring theme in American church history. Plus, she's working on a book about the Religion News Service, which was apparently run by Jewish editors providing church news to Christian newspapers. This goes to show how much more complicated and interesting these stories get when you actually dig into the archives. Elesha Coffman is a historian of American Christianity and professor of history at Baylor University. She is the author of The Christian Century and the Rise of the Protestant Mainline and Turning Points in American Church History, as well as a biography of anthropologist Margaret Mead. UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The God of Justice: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Contemporary Longing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This transformative online class brings together distinguished scholars from biblical studies, theology, history, and faith leadership to offer exactly what our moment demands: the rich, textured wisdom of multiple academic disciplines speaking into our contemporary quest for justice. Here you'll discover how ancient texts illuminate modern struggles, how theological reflection deepens social action, and how historical understanding opens new possibilities for faithful engagement with our world's brokenness and beauty. Join John Dominic Crossan, Peter Enns, Casey Sigmon, Aizaiah Yong, & Malcolm Foley As always, the class is donation-based, including 0. INFO & Sign-Up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.FaithAndPolitics.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is a unique three-day conference that brings together of theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. Guests this year include John Dominic Crossan, Kelly Brown Douglas, Philip Clayton, Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Jeffery Pugh, Juan Floyd-Thomas, Andy Root, Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Noreen Herzfeld, Reggie Williams, Casper ter Kuile, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get info and tickets here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. _____________________ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American Christianity is at a crossroads. In this episode, John and Lisa talk with Martin and Millicent Sedra. Martin grew up in Egypt, where his father boldly preached Christ in the face of persecution. Now ministering globally, they urge the Western church to resist compromise, reject fear of man, and return to bold, biblical faith before it's too late. Their message is clear: the time for comfortable Christianity is over. God is calling His people to embrace His Word and Spirit with passion, raising up a generation to carry the flame of revival.___________________________________________FREE Show Notes Here:  https://page.church.tech/dfdda875___________________________________________Order premium meat now through Good Ranchers—use code “BEVERE" at checkout: https://go.goodranchers.com/bevere___________________________________________Our generous listeners who faithfully support this content monthly make Conversations with John and Lisa possible. Support this podcast by becoming a Patron here (tax-deductible): https://3szn.short.gy/FFF