Development and growth of the Christian religion
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After 1,500 years of continuous Christian service, the world's oldest monastery is being forced to close its doors. Related Resource Get digital access to the 2025 Colson Center National Conference at colsoncenter.org/july. _____________ Apply for the Colson Fellows Program at colsonfellows.org.
Pastors should speak up for those called outside of church walls as much as inside. Related Resource What Would You Say?: The Separation of Church and State Protects Us From Religious Ideas _____________ Register for the FREE livestream event Truth, Love, and Humor: Faith Without Fear at colsoncenter.org/truth.
The Scopes Trial and its cast of colorful characters is the story of the power of narratives to shape public perception. Related Resource What Would You Say?: Are Humans and Chimpanzees Basically the Same? _____________ Get FREE access to the “Why Life? Courageous Faith in a Culture of Death” video series at colsoncenter.org/whylife.
Why are young men returning to church? And why aren't young women joining them? ____________ Join us in laying a strong foundation for the future at colsoncenter.org/monthly.
If there is some characteristic that grounds human dignity and equality, it must be something intrinsic. Related Resource What Would You Say?: Am I on the Wrong Side of History? ___________ Register for the upcoming Colson Fellows program at colsonfellows.org.
Parental rights score wins at the Supreme Court. We look at the importance of the Declaration of Independence on this July 4th and discuss the legacy of Jimmy Swaggart. Recommendations Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew Wilson Liberty's Kids : American Revolution Segment 1 - Supreme Court Decisions and the Death of Jimmy Swaggart MAHMOUD ET AL. v. TAYLOR ET AL. First Things: SCOTUS Takes on Big Porn Segment 2 - Independence Day Breakpoint: Is It Really ‘Self-Evident' That We Are Equal? Segment 3 - America's Gambling Addiction What Would You Say?: Is sports gambling okay? Breakpoint: Betting on the Final Four: The Scourge of Sports Gambling Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life by David Bahnsen Submit a question to Breakpoint here! __________ Register for the Colson Fellows Program with your spouse and save 25% at colsonfellows.org. Register for the upcoming webinar Truth, Love, and Humor: Faith Without Fear at greatlakessymposium.org.
Send us a textHappy Fourth of July!This week we go back to the time when Greg, Brad, and Bryan sat down with Dr. Marshall Shelley to talk about difficult people in the Church. They explore the types of difficult people and how/why to care for them well.Dr. Marshall Shelley joined the faculty of Denver Seminary in 2016 and served as director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor of pastoral leadership and ministry. He was editor of Leadership Journal for 34 years, and as a vice president at Christianity Today, oversaw Christian History, Marriage Partnership, Church Law & Tax Report, and Men of Integrity magazines and PreachingToday.com. Check out Well-Intentioned Dragons
David Barton, America's favorite historian, delights us with stories you have not heard about some of our founding fathers, their true faith, and many other facts about our Christian heritage. A must-listen for the whole family! Preserve America's Heritage: Education, Resources and Events (https://wallbuilders.com/)
When the cultural mood picks and chooses from the Bible. Related Resource What Would You Say?: Is the Bible Still Relevant? _______________ Register for the next Colson Fellows informational webinar at colsonfellows.org/webinar.
Is America a Christian nation? Can we prove our history was part of God's divine plan? Historian David Barton joins us with inspiring stories and amazing facts to help us celebrate the true founding of our country. Incredible! Preserve America's Heritage: Education, Resources and Events (https://wallbuilders.com/)
How did we get here, and what do we do now? Related Resource Learn more about the Colson Fellows Program at colsonfellows.org. ______________ Be a part of restoring what's broken at colsoncenter.org/june.
Prison ministry and the embodiment of Christ. __________ Register for the Colson Educators course Navigating Cancel Culture: Holding Fast to Truth and Love in a Hostile World at colsoneducators.org.
Are pictures and films depicting Jesus like The Chosen okay for Christians to watch? Steve gets into the nit and grit of the debate and brings scripture to bear on this. Christian liberty, legalism, or lie?
The passing of two great missionaries. _____________ Cornerstone Partners receive special resources, discounts, and other gifts from the Colson Center. To learn more, visit colsoncenter.org/cornerstone.
Pro-life apologetics is crucial, even for Christians who should know better. Related Resource What Would You Say?: "Abortion is Healthcare" ______________ Be a part of restoring what's broken by joining the Colson Center at colsoncenter.org/june.
No matter the label, it's all His. Related Resource What Would You Say?: How to Have a Conversation: Basic Principles __________________ Join the Colson Center as a Cornerstone Monthly Partner at colsoncenter.org/monthly. Register for the upcoming Great Lakes Symposium: Truth, Love, and Humor: Faith Without Fear at colsoncenter.org/truth.
Mike and Ken release another Best of Did You Knows. The Did You Know segments of Jesus Changes People is the time in the show when the guys share facts about the Bible, Christian History, and Christian Oddities. The Did You Knows in this volume are all focused on Christian rock music and comedy. Join Ken and Mike, as they share these facts with us again. The 6 Did You Knows came from these 6 episodes:Season 1 - Episode 33 - August 15, 2022 - Keeping His CommandsSeason 1 - Episode 38 - September 19, 2022 - Trial and DenialSeason 1 - Episode 42 - October 17. 2022 - Putting It Into Practice | John 16:1-20:18Season 4 - Episode 78 - June 26, 2023 - An Unlikely KingSeason 5 - Episode 86 - August 21, 2023 - Ruth Meets BoazSeason 5 - Episode 89 - September 11, 2023 - Wrap Up: RuthSupport the show
Spirituality-seekers are trending, but what they're looking for is easily found. Related Resource What Would You Say?: Was Jesus' Resurrection Based on Pagan Myths? __________ Register today for the ACSI Rooted Conference at acsi.org/rooted.
Anne Bradstreet was a young Puritan woman with ink-stained fingers and a heart full of dreams. Growing up in 17th-century England, she found solace in her father's library. Anne felt a God-given calling to express herself through poetry. Her faith grew stronger after a battle with smallpox as a teenager. The suffering drew her closer to God.Anne married Simon Bradstreet, a man of wisdom and quiet strength. He saw the gift God had placed within her and encouraged her to write.Together, they journeyed to the New World, settling in the rugged wilderness of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Anne clung to her faith and found comfort in poetry. She poured her heart onto parchment. To her, Anne's words were an act of worship.Then came the fire that consumed her home. All her family's earthly possessions were turned to ash. But rather than letting grief consume her, Anne turned to God. Through her sorrow, she penned verses of trust and surrender. Her resilience and unwavering faith became a light to many. Soon, her brother-in-law took Anne's poetry to England, where it was published, making her the first published female poet in America. Though she never sought fame, her words carried weight, offering insight into faith, perseverance, and the unique struggles of womanhood in a rigid Puritan society.As the years passed, Anne remained devoted to writing, using her gift to leave a legacy of faith. Anne's words, shaped by both sorrow and hope, continue to inspire generations.Tricia Goyerhttps://triciagoyer.com/books/Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet–The Complete Collection (Kindle Edition) by Anne BradstreetThe Poems of Anne Bradstreet (Christian Heritage Paperback) by Anne BradstreetGreat Women in Christian History by A. Kenneth Curtis & Daniel Graves
It's all level at the foot of the Cross. ____________ Register for the Great Lakes Symposium: Truth, Love, and Humor and colsoncenter.org/truth.
The Ascension wasn't merely Jesus leaving the Earth, but the God-man sitting in authority and power on His eternal throne. Related Resource What Would You Say?: Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead? ____________ Join the Colson Center as a Cornerstone Partner at colsoncenter.org/monthly.
Who is Jesus? Related Resource What Would You Say?: Was Jesus God? ____________ Help the Church be the Church by giving today at colsoncenter.org/may.
Anne Bradstreet was a young Puritan woman with ink-stained fingers and a heart full of dreams. Growing up in 17th-century England, she found solace in her father's library. Anne felt a God-given calling to express herself through poetry. Her faith grew stronger after a battle with smallpox as a teenager. The suffering drew her closer to God.Anne married Simon Bradstreet, a man of wisdom and quiet strength. He saw the gift God had placed within her and encouraged her to write.Together, they journeyed to the New World, settling in the rugged wilderness of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Anne clung to her faith and found comfort in poetry. She poured her heart onto parchment. To her, Anne's words were an act of worship.Then came the fire that consumed her home. All her family's earthly possessions were turned to ash. But rather than letting grief consume her, Anne turned to God. Through her sorrow, she penned verses of trust and surrender. Her resilience and unwavering faith became a light to many. Soon, her brother-in-law took Anne's poetry to England, where it was published, making her the first published female poet in America. Though she never sought fame, her words carried weight, offering insight into faith, perseverance, and the unique struggles of womanhood in a rigid Puritan society.As the years passed, Anne remained devoted to writing, using her gift to leave a legacy of faith. Anne's words, shaped by both sorrow and hope, continue to inspire generations.Tricia Goyerhttps://triciagoyer.com/books/Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet–The Complete Collection (Kindle Edition) by Anne BradstreetThe Poems of Anne Bradstreet (Christian Heritage Paperback) by Anne BradstreetGreat Women in Christian History by A. Kenneth Curtis & Daniel Graves
Christian History and Western Civilization 5/25/25 by First Presbyterian Church San Antonio
Thanking those who serve and remembering Whom you serve. __________ Join the Colson Center as a Cornerstone Partner at colsoncenter.org/monthly.
A young Israeli couple are murdered in Washington D.C. The Council of Nicaea was 1700 years ago but is just as relevant today. And is AI capable of ending humanity? Recommendations Ozempic's gnostic temptations by Maria Baer Register for the Great Lakes Symposium: Truth, Love, and Humor! Segment 1 - News of the Week AP: Court papers say suspect in embassy killings declared, ‘I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza' FOX: Pope Leo says family based on ‘union between a man and a woman,' defends dignity of unborn WORLD: Women's college gives transgender Biden official a degree Register for the Great Lakes Symposium: Truth, Love, and Humor! Segment 2 - 1700th Anniversary of Council of Nicaea Lifeway Research: American Views on Who Jesus Was and Why He Came Segment 3 - Worldview Implications of AI NYT: An Interview With the Herald of the Apocalypse Breakpoint: Lying Robots on the Internet Breakpoint Forum: The Perils and Promise of Artificial Intelligence Segment 4 - Listener Questions Submit a question to Breakpoint here! Breakpoint: Trust the Science on Life __________ Help the Church be the Church by giving before June 30 at colsoncenter.org/June. Join the Colson Center as a Cornerstone partner at colsoncenter.org/monthly.
If your day of choosing between your faith and your job hasn't come yet, it may be just around the corner. Related Resource What Would You Say?: Is Religious Freedom an Excuse for Discrimination? ___________ Register for the 2025 Great Lakes Symposium: Truth, Love, and Humor: Faith Without Fear at colsoncenter.org/truth.
Christian History and Western Civilization 5/11/25 by First Presbyterian Church San Antonio
Why all Christians should care who the next pope is. __________ Register for the ACSI Rooted Educator Worldview Summit in Dallas, TX at acsi.org/rooted.
Student Sunday
Listener and readers will know that, around here, we love Cotton Mather. On this episode, Rick Kennedy, professor of history at Point Loma Nazarene University, talks to Timon about the life and legacy of "America's first evangelical." #CottonMather #RickKennedy #PointLoma #History #America #Evangelical #Christian Show Notes: https://www.amazon.com/First-American-Evangelical-Religious-Biography/dp/0802872115 https://eerdword.com/cotton-mather-love-to-hate-him-or-hate-to-love-him/ Dr. Rick Kennedy came to PLNU in 1995. An intellectual/cultural historian, he has authored books and articles on the history of logic, mathematics, architecture, astronomy, education, historiography, and Christian thought. His most recent works are on Cotton Mather, one of early America's most influential pastor-scholars, and the Christian History of Southern California. He is also a former president and secretary to the academic organization: The Conference on Faith and History. His wife is a retired principal of City Tree Christian School at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown San Diego, they have four children, and one grandchild. Learn more about Rick Kennedy's work at: https://www.pointloma.edu/faculty/rick-kennedy-phd –––––– Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/ Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/ Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline The American Reformer Podcast is hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings. Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5
What if marching for women's rights meant for the persecuted instead of for abortion? ______________ Learn more about the Colson Fellows Program by registering for one of our upcoming webinars at colsonfellows.org/webinar.
Are you ready to unlearn everything your history teacher got wrong?In this episode, Tim Barton of Wall Builders demolishes the modern myths about America's founding with jaw-dropping original documents and hard historical facts. From the faith of the Founding Fathers to the myth of “separation of church and state,” this is the American history class you should have had.If you've ever heard someone smugly claim the Founders were deists or that God has no place in government — this episode is for you. Grab a coffee, a notebook, and buckle up.
Taking the eye off the prize. Related Resource What Would You Say?: Doesn't Religious Liberty Protect Extremists? _____________ Register for an upcoming Colson Fellows Informational Webinar at colsonfellows.org/webinar.
A meeting at the White House this week looked at several examples of anti-Christian bias in bureaucracy and beyond. The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case originating in Maryland that puts school officials over parents. And John and Maria discuss the legacy of Pope Francis. Segment 1 - Anti Christian Bias, SCOTUS Hearing on Parental Rights Attorney General Pamela Bondi Hosts First Task Force Meeting to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias in the Federal Government CSPAN: Mahmoud v. Taylor Oral Argument Segment 2 - Death and Legacy of the Pope Breakpoint: The Passing of Pope Francis and the Future of the Roman Church First Things: Pope Francis, My Worst Protestant Nightmare by Carl Trueman Segment 3 - Falling Birth Rate New York Times: Birthrates Languish in Record Lows, C.D.C. Reports CNN: US fertility rate hovers near record low as Trump administration pushes for a baby boom Emma Waters on Falling Birth Rates In Pursuit Conference: What do Marriage and Motherhood have to do with the Happiness of Women Segment 4 - Answering Listener Questions Breakpoint: The Cornerstone of a Legacy The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright __________ Download the free e-book: Being the Church in a Post-Christian Culture by S. Michael Craven at colsoncenter.org/church. Get access to the free video series: “Why Life? Courageous Faith in a Culture of Death” at colsoncenter.org/whylife.
God's divinity, humanity's frailty, and the way forward for America. ___________ Join the Colson Center as a Cornerstone Monthly Partner at colsoncenter.org/cornerstone.
The impact of the Pope's legacy. __________ Register for the upcoming Identity Project Webinar: Saying 'I Do' is Good for You at colsoncenter.org/marriage.
Chuck Colson and his passion for worldview training. Learn more about becoming a Cornerstone Monthly Partner at colsoncenter.org/cornerstone. ___________ Get free access to the free video series “Why Life? Courageous Faith in a Culture of Death” at colsoncenter.org/whylife.
Is the Shroud of Turin the real burial cloth of Jesus Christ—or the greatest mystery in Christian history? In this powerful episode of Michael &, Michael Knowles is joined by theologian and historian Dr. Jeremiah Johnston to uncover the mind-blowing discoveries surrounding the Shroud. From scientific analysis and historical evidence to theological significance, they explore what makes the Shroud one of the most studied and debated relics in the world—and what it could mean for believers today. - - - Today's Sponsor: Hallow - Put your relationship with God first. Head over to https://hallow.com/knowles for three months free today!
When four Jewish girls needed to be protected from the Nazis, Fritz Niermann leaned into his faith. __________ Join the Colson Center as a Cornerstone Partner at colsoncenter.org/monthly.
Try though they may, biblical doubters can't beat the truth. __________ Register for the upcoming Lighthouse Voices: The Christian's Guide to this 'Civilizational Moment' at colsoncenter.org/lighthouse.
We're certainly in a moment, and the faithful should be the guiding lights. Register for the upcoming Lighthouse Voices: The Christian's Guide to this 'Civilizational Moment' at colsoncenter.org/lighthouse. __________ Learn more about Sovereign Private Wealth and how to manage your money with a team that takes good stewardship to heart at sovereignpw.com.
Like many faith giants, God calls us to embrace this time and place while yet imperfect. __________ Register for the upcoming Lighthouse Voices: The Christian's Guide to this 'Civilizational Moment' at colsoncenter.org/lighthouse.
The little-known mentor who helped Lewis become one of the greatest Christian thinkers of our time. __________ Download your free copy of the e-book Being the Church in a Post-Christian Culture by S. Michael Craven at colsoncenter.org/church.
The time has never been better to help people consume the Word, not just have it on their shelves. __________ Sign up for the self-paced Colson Educators course, Worldview Foundation, at colsoneducators.org.
No matter the label, it's all His, and that's the view by which to navigate life. Related Resource What Would You Say?: How to Have a Conversation: Basic Principles ___________ For more information or to apply for the Colson Fellows Program visit colsonfellows.org.
Young men are searching for meaning and looking to the Church. Related Resource What Would You Say?: Do I Really Need to Go to Church? ____________ Register for the next Breakpoint Forum on A New Sexual Revolution at colsoncenter.org/greenville.
Cultural fads are flashes in the pan because the future belongs to Christ alone. __________ Restore hope and make communities safer by partnering with Prison Fellowship at prisonfellowship.org/colsoncenter.
If everybody's religion is right, then no one can be wrong . . . right? ______________ Sign up for free access to 200+ expert-led videos addressing topics like gender, identity, and purpose at identityproject.tv.