Podcasts about church life

Every so often on this show, I set the conversation aside and simply read something. This is one of those episodes.Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence. And in paragraph 213, in the middle of an argument about the small and steadfast acts of fidelity that stand as a bulwark against dehumanization, the pope quotes a wizard.The wizard is Gandalf, and this is what he says: "It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till" (The Return of the King).I have to say I wasn't surprised. Some years ago I wrote a long essay about why The Lord of the Rings is a Catholic book — not because there is any religion in it, because there isn't any, but because of what Tolkien absorbed into the story. An account of power. An account of hope. An account of discernment and responsibility. And an account of what goes unseen.When I read what Leo had written, I wanted to go back to that thought about Tolkien's Catholic work. So that is what this episode is: that essay, read for you start to finish, bringing forth some of Tolkien's Catholic vision, embedded in and absorbed into his Lord of the Rings.Links: "'The Lord of the Rings': A Catholic journey," by Leonard J. DeLorenzo, In Focus article via Our Sunday Visitor"Magnifica Humanitas: Pope Leo XIV on Artificial Intelligence, with Brett Robinson," podcast episode via Church Life Today"Tolkien's Creative Imagination, with Holly Ordway," podcast episode via Church Life Today"The Lord of the Rings, Sickness, and Health, with Kristin Collier," podcast episode via Church Life Today"Public Relations for C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Dorothy Sayers, with Christie Kleinmann," podcast episode via Church Life Today"Why Literature Still Matters, with Jason Baxter," podcast episode via Church Life Today"Tolkien's Literary Output: Fundamentally Religious and Catholic?" by Holly Ordway, article via Church Life JournalChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

What does the Bible actually say about going to church? Is gathering with other believers optional, or is it an essential part of the Christian life? Can someone follow Jesus faithfully while neglecting the local church? In this episode, Jonathan and Brandon discuss what Scripture teaches about the church, why Christians are commanded to gather together, and how God uses the local church for our growth by answering some of the most common objections people have to being part of the church today. Website: https://www.gospelcommunitysc.org Give: https://www.gospelcommunitysc.org/giving

Maria Johnson interviews Lisa Gulino, D. Min, Director of the Peyton Institute For Domestic Church Life. Dr. Lisa Gulino received her Doctorate in Ministry from the Catholic University of America in Spiritual Formation with emphasis in evangelization and catechesis. She wrote her dissertation on the spiritual and faith formation of the domestic church. Since 2007 Lisa has served as an adjunct professor at St. Joseph College for both theology and pastoral ministry courses. Her work with the Congregation of Holy Cross began in 2018 as a facilitator and advisor with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame's STEP Program. And she also serves as a faculty member for the Permanent Diaconate program for the Diocese of Fall River. Links: Holy Cross Family Ministries Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life  

There is an old story we keep telling because we cannot stop living it. A brother brings his offering and it is received; another brings his and it is not; and in the space of that difference something curdles. We know how it goes. We have felt the heat rise in our own chests when someone else is favored, praised, chosen—when the good that lands on them seems, by some dark arithmetic, to be subtracted from us. Cain rises up against Abel in a field, and the first human death is not an accident but a killing born of comparison.Why does this story refuse to stay in the past? Perhaps because it is not really about two men long ago. It is about the fault line that runs through every family, every generation, every heart—the temptation to believe that another's blessing is our loss, and that the answer is to strike. John Steinbeck understood this. In East of Eden he takes the Cain and Abel motif and lets it echo down through generations, refiguring it in new fathers and new sons, as if to say: this is the inheritance, this is what we hand down. But he also found, buried in the ancient text, a single word that breaks the spell. Timshel—thou mayest. Not thou shalt, not thou must, but thou mayest. You are not fated to strike. You may yet choose otherwise.That word is where despair and hope divide. And it is where a great novel becomes a school for the soul.My guest today is Michon Matthiesen, Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, who reads East of Eden with her undergraduates in a course on the theology of envy. She returns to the show to help us see what Steinbeck saw: how the oldest sin keeps rewriting itself across generations, and how a single word might set us free.Links:"Aquinas and the Limits of Forgiveness: A Case Study in Anna Karenina," by Anna Bonta Moreland, article via Church Life Journal "Graham Greene's 'The End of the Affair,' A Conversation with Josh McManaway," podcast episode via Church Life Today"C. S. Lewis's ‘The Great Divorce', a discussion with Josh McManaway," podcast episode via Church Life Today“The Lord of the Rings, Sickness, and Health, with Kristin Collier,” podcast episode via Church Life Today"Why Literature Still Matters, with Jason Baxter," podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Divide and Conquer"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." — Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)Learn more about this channel at https://christian1057.com

The sermon examines 1 Timothy 2:8-10 to emphasize that authentic worship and godly living prioritize internal spiritual conditions over external appearances. It argues that men must pray with holy hands, free from anger and quarreling, highlighting that God looks at the state of the heart rather than physical postures. Similarly, women are called to adorn themselves with modesty and self-control, focusing on strength and dignity rather than costly attire or hairstyles. By referencing Isaiah and Proverbs 31, the text clarifies that true godliness is defined by a right relationship with God and ethical conduct, not by rigid cultural standards of dress. Ultimately, the message urges believers to pursue inner holiness and humility in all aspects of their public witness.

The sermon examines 1 Timothy 2:8-10 to emphasize that authentic worship and godly living prioritize internal spiritual conditions over external appearances. It argues that men must pray with holy hands, free from anger and quarreling, highlighting that God looks at the state of the heart rather than physical postures. Similarly, women are called to adorn themselves with modesty and self-control, focusing on strength and dignity rather than costly attire or hairstyles. By referencing Isaiah and Proverbs 31, the text clarifies that true godliness is defined by a right relationship with God and ethical conduct, not by rigid cultural standards of dress. Ultimately, the message urges believers to pursue inner holiness and humility in all aspects of their public witness.

What is your church life like?  Here are some guidelines and teachings on how to make yours great!

Is it possible to be close to Jesus but still hold something back?In today's episode, we'll explore the difference between being interested in Jesus and fully surrendering our hearts to Him. Together, we will dive into the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, uncovering what it means to let go of the "no go zones" in our lives and truly obey. We'll reflect on how partial surrender can hold us back, and discover the courage it takes to give every part of our lives to God.Join us for this encouraging devotional as we pray and seek together a deeper, more complete surrender, trusting Jesus with everything.Tap HERE to send us a text! Our podcast family is growing - introducing Men's Morning Devotional! Our dad, Steve Alessi, and all of our husbands are now hosting their own 5 minute devotionals every weekday - for men who want to become better husbands, fathers, and leaders! Listen, follow and subscribe here - MensMorningDevotional.comSupport the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can watch our new video episodes on YouTube! Watch Our Video DevotionalsNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? We're so glad you're here! We're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in a church in Miami, FL, and we're so blessed to partner with the My Morning Devotional community and continue the great work done by the show's creator and our friend, Alison Delamota.We pray our personal reflections and devotions will empower you to grow your faith in God, and that you'll join us every morning in prayer! JOIN THE MMD COMMUNITYSubscribe to the show on this appShare with a friendJoin our newsletter Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Leave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYEnjoy more podcasts from Metro Life Studios, including:The Family Business with The AlessisMen's Morning DevotionalThe Mary and Martha Show Available on our Metro Life Studios app!Get The Metro Life Studios app 

Parental rights have long occupied an important place in American law and political thought. While the Supreme Court today generally recognizes parental rights as fundamental, the constitutional foundations of those rights remain the subject of significant debate. Modern doctrine, reflected in cases such as Meyer v. Nebraska, Pierce v. Society of Sisters, Troxel v. Granville, and more recent disputes involving parental authority over children’s education and upbringing, largely rests on substantive due process—a doctrine that itself remains controversial.This webinar will explore parental rights from their roots in natural law and the political thought of the American Founding through their development in modern constitutional jurisprudence. What did the Founders understand the parent-child relationship to entail, and how did earlier natural-law traditions shape those views? How did parental rights come to be recognized as fundamental within American constitutional law? And looking forward, what is the strongest constitutional foundation for protecting parental rights? Should substantive due process remain the primary vehicle, or are there alternative constitutional grounds that may provide a more secure basis for these protections?Featuring:Michael P. Farris, General Counsel, NRBProf. Martin Guggenheim, Fiorello LaGuardia Professor of Clinical Law Emeritus, New York University School of LawProf. Melissa Moschella, Professor of the Practice, Philosophy, McGrath Institute for Church Life, University of Notre DameAnthony Sanders, Director, Center for Judicial Engagement, Institute for Justice(Moderator) Gene C. Schaerr, Partner, Schaerr Jaffe LLP CLEThis event has been approved for1.00 Total CLE HoursIn order to receive CLE credit for this webinar, attendees must attend the Zoom Webinar and have access to the chat box. This event's accreditation is highly predicated upon interactivity and verification measures that are only available via the webinar.If you join via audio, calling in, SIP, or H.323, you will not be eligible to receive CLE Credit.State Approval Status CLE Materials Questions? Check out our CLE FAQ page.

2026 is a big year for getting a national snapshot of Aussies. It will be Census night on Tuesday 11th August. Life, Culture and Current Events from a Biblical Perspective with Neil Johnson.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Dr Adam Koontz and Col Willie Grills answer listener questions about Why Walther decried the theater, whether women should be silent in Bible class, Ananias and Sapphira, sending money to Synod, and evangelical language about conversion. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Thanks to our sponsors, Ad Crucem, Memento, and Gnesio Health Dr Adam Koontz - Redeemer Lutheran Church Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

There is a sin that has learned to survive by not looking like one. We have made room for it—quietly, in the way we work and compete and measure ourselves against the person beside us. We have given it respectable names: ambition, drive, a healthy edge. Everyone feels it, we tell ourselves. So perhaps it cannot be helped. And what cannot be helped, we assume, cannot really be a vice.But the Christian tradition never granted it that cover. It saw this thing as anti-life. It traced it back to Satan himself—not his first sin, but the bitter fruit of his pride, the refusal to bear that another might be beloved. It warned that this sin shrinks the heart, isolates the soul, and turns its poison first upon the one who harbors it—that to give way to it is, in the old and startling image, to lay the hangman against your own heart. It corrodes friendships and families, churches and nations. And it does all of this while convincing us it is only natural.What feeds it is a lie: the fear that there is not enough love to go around, that another's blessing must mean my own diminishment, that I am the less-favored child. And if that is the lie, then the remedy is not merely to try harder to be good. It is to be brought somewhere we can finally see the truth—that before God there is no greater and no lesser, only beloved children, and that the gift given at the altar is not divided when it is shared but multiplied. My guest today has spent years unveiling this sin and naming its cure. She is Michon Matthiesen, of the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, and her work traces it through Scripture and the Fathers, through Aquinas and Dante, all the way to the one place she believes it can finally be undone: the Eucharist.Links:Sacrifice as Gift: Eucharist, Grace, and Contemplative Prayer in Maurice de la Taille, by Michon Matthiesen (Catholic University of America Press)Find an archive of Michon's work at Adoremus, including essays on the liturgy and Eucharistic sacrifice: https://adoremus.org/author/michon-matthiesen/On envy in the Summa Theologiae (II-II, q. 36), Thomas Aquinas: https://www.newadvent.org/summa/3036.htm"Hunger, Poverty, and the Eucharist," by Bishop Daniel Flores, article via Church Life Journal“The Joy of Hate Watching,” by Luke Burgis, article via Church Life JournalChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

First Thessalonians closes with Paul pressing very practical faith into everyday church life. Paul had only been with the Thessalonians for a short time, about three weeks, and yet God had made that young church rock solid in the middle of horrible persecution. The Thessalonian church had become a model church, not because life was easy, but because its eyes were not settled on this life alone. Eternity was the bigger picture, and that made the suffering of this world lose its power to steal ultimate hope.Paul begins with social attitudes in the body of Christ. The church is to recognize those who labor, lead, and admonish, and to esteem them highly in love for their work's sake. Paul does not make leadership a matter of status, but of service, labor, and spiritual responsibility. The church is also called to be at peace, not merely sitting together on Sunday morning, but being one in spirit and love.Paul then turns to the way believers treat one another. The unruly are to be warned, like soldiers who have stepped out of rank and weakened the whole army. The fainthearted are to be comforted, the weak upheld, and all are to be treated with patience. God gives gifts, talents, money, and responsibilities not so that a person can “get all he can and can all he gets,” but so that the church may serve, help, and strengthen one another.Paul's short commands come like a staccato list. “Rejoice always” does not mean painful circumstances are easy or enjoyable. It means the believer's heart is fixed beyond the rain cloud of this life, toward eternity in the presence of God. “Pray without ceasing” means more than muttering words. Prayer is communion with God, an attitude of surrender and communication throughout the day.Paul also commands thankfulness in everything. The Charlie Brown rain cloud may hang over a person in dark seasons, but gratitude turns the heart toward God even there. Paul then warns, “Do not quench the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit speaks, guides, strengthens, and convicts, and the believer must not keep resisting until the heart grows dull.Paul finally says to test all things, hold fast to what is good, and abstain from every form of evil. The Word of God becomes the measure for prophecies, impressions, counsel, conscience, and conduct. Paul leaves no room for bitterness, unforgiveness, selfishness, or careless living. The church's relationships, thankfulness, discernment, and moral conduct reflect directly on Jesus Christ before a watching world.

Should all women be silent in Church as 1Corinthians 14:34-35 seems to teach? Does this mean they can't teach or preach, or even pray, testify or prophesy? The results of this study may surprise you! Join Derek Walker as he delves into this controversial passage. Discover a fresh perspective on the ministry of women in the Church through this engaging and informative presentation.

Should all women be silent in Church as 1Corinthians 14:34-35 seems to teach? Does this mean they can't teach or preach, or even pray, testify or prophesy? The results of this study may surprise you! Join Derek Walker as he delves into this controversial passage. Discover a fresh perspective on the ministry of women in the Church through this engaging and informative presentation.

Somewhere along the way, we started training young people to be merely operators. We teach them to manage the machine, to run the system, to handle the tool that does the real work—and we measure their learning by how well they can retrieve what they need at the moment they need it. It is an efficient arrangement. It is also a strange one, because the things we most admire in a person—the capacity to think clearly when the air turns thick, to imagine, to judge well, to hold fast to what is true when someone is bending the meaning of words—none of these can be outsourced. They have to be formed. That is an older word for what school was once for: formation. Not the acquisition of data, but the slow shaping of a soul—its memory, its loves, its capacity to perceive what is real. And there may be no better guide to recovering that vision than C.S. Lewis, who hid an entire philosophy of education inside stories we hand to children, and who knew that the adventure itself is the formative thing.My guest today is Shannon Valenzuela, a writer, director, and producer working in the same imaginative tradition of Lewis, and an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Humanities at the University of Dallas. This past year she served as a Fellow of our Inklings Project—the McGrath Institute's fellowship that gathers educators from around the globe to read deeply in the company of Lewis, Tolkien, and the great sources behind them. We talk about what the Chronicles of Narnia teach us about forming the whole person, about memory and mastery and Aslan as the model teacher, and about where the Inklings Project is headed next—including a new fellowship opening to middle school and high school educators.Follow-up Resources:Learn more about the Inklings Project, which is currently inviting Middle and High School Educators to apply for its fellowship program by August 1, 2026Follow Shannon Valenzuela's new Adoro Te film series and sign up for updates: https://millefioristudios.myflodesk.com/eucharistChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

1 Peter 4:7-11 Christ's victory ushered us into the final stage of God's redemption plan. Because of this, the demonic realm rages against us (4:1-6). To withstand the onslaught and the certain suffering, we must fight together through prayer, loving relationships, hospitality, and serving one another. Pastor Mollenkopf walks us through this importan passage in Peter's first letter.

Your heart is restless. It wants more than this world can give. It longs for a love that will not fail, a peace that will not pass away, a home that cannot be taken from you. You know this—perhaps you have always known it—even when you try to silence the longing with lesser things.In the seventeenth century, Jesus revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque the answer to that longing. He showed her his Sacred Heart: aflame with love, wounded by ingratitude, yearning for souls who would console him through their devotion. What she saw was not simply a vision but an invitation. Christ was opening his heart to her—and through her, to us—saying in effect: This is what you have been seeking. This is where you belong.The Sacred Heart has become a home for many saints over the ages. In this episode, I want to share with you, briefly, three saints who fostered a devotion to the Sacred Heart. I add this to a previous episode where I shared a longer reflection on St. Margaret Mary Alacoque herself. These reflections are taken from my new book, The Rule of the Sacred Heart: Finding Rest in a Restless World. I crafted this book as a 33-day devotional, leading us, step by step, toward intimacy with Christ in his Sacred Heart and responding to his mercy in our lives. Over the 33 days, we meditate on biblical scenes, probe the revelations of the Sacred Heart to Christ's saints, and give our minds and hearts little by little to the Sacred Heart each day, all while taking on small but intentional devotions.What I share with you today are short introductions to three saints that accompany the devotions in the third week of the devotional journey. I hope you enjoy.Follow-up Resources:The Rule of the Sacred Heart: Finding Rest in a Restless World by Leonard DeLorenzo (OSV)“St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the Devotion to the Sacred Heart,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Drawing close to feel the beating of the Sacred Heart,” by Leonard J. DeLorenzo, article via Our Sunday VisitorChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Episode Summary:In this episode, host Kenny Jahng sits down with Dr. Ed Stetzer, Dean of the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, to explore how AI technology is disrupting relationships, fueling loneliness, and reshaping the mission of the Church. They dive deep into how pastors and ministry leaders can thoughtfully respond as more people—especially young adults—turn to chatbots for connection and counsel. Listeners will discover practical wisdom for stewarding AI in ministry, fostering authentic community, and creating space for biblical reflection amidst rapid technological change.In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why AI has emerged at a critical time for relational and mental health crises in societyHow large language models and chatbots are changing where people turn for advice and therapyWhat pastors can do to address the epidemic of loneliness exacerbated by technologyThe importance of preserving human-in-the-loop oversight when using AI tools in ministryHow to encourage countercultural, authentic Christian community in a digital agePowerful cautions and boundaries for deploying AI-generated content in church communicationsWhy discernment and theological reflection must pace with technology adoption among church staffKey Quotes:“AI comes along and it personifies and personalizes your opportunity to have relationships online.” — Ed Stetzer“The antidote to an AI-driven crisis of loneliness is small community where we provoke one another to love and good deeds.” — Ed Stetzer“You don't have to be an expert on AI, but you can call people to community.” — Ed Stetzer“If I'm in between the output of AI and where I'm placing it, that's a line I know I'm on the right side of.” — Corey (Sermon Shots)“The rate of adoption is outpacing the thoughtfulness to it.” — Kenny JahngLinks & Resources Mentioned:Sermon Shots: https://sermonshots.comTalbot School of Theology, Biola University: https://www.biola.edu/talbotChurchTechToday.com: https://churchtechtoday.comExponential AI Next: https://exponential.org/ai-next/ State of AI in the Church Reportedstetzer.com: http://edstetzer.comAbout the Church Tech Today Podcast:The Church Tech Today Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. Hosted by Kenny Jahng and brought to you by www.FrontDoor.church.

Chris chats with Liz Zenger, program manager of The Inklings Project, which provides resources for professors, teachers, and other groups developing Inklings-related courses. Also, by way of update, this just in from Liz herself:  This is currently live for 6-12 teachers! Goes along with your second to last question of the podcast :-)   Call for Proposals Inklings Project Fellowship for 6-12 Teachers Applications can be submitted via this link until Aug 1, 2026.     For the first time in its history, the Inklings Project, under the University of Notre Dame's McGrath Institute for Church Life, is opening its fellowship to middle school and high school educators. Previous cohorts have drawn from college and university faculty; this new two-year cohort, beginning in Fall 2026, will be made up of those who educate in grades 6–12. Middle and high school is when many readers first encounter C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien—and where an educator's love for these authors can ripple outward to students, parents, and an entire school community. View the Call for Proposals or visit www.inklingsproject.org/apply for more information on the fellowship and application requirements. Applications can be submitted via this link until August 1, 2026.   Among other things, we discuss: What The Inklings Project is (~0:53) — Liz explains the initiative: supporting faculty to create Inklings courses, providing grants, and building fellowship through a cohort model. The Wade Center at Wheaton College (~4:10) — The in-person annual gathering for fellows, housing original manuscripts, Tolkien's desk, Lewis's wardrobe, etc. Diverse faculty backgrounds (~6:30) — How professors from biology, business, public relations, and other non-literary fields are teaching Inklings courses, and why that breadth matters. The origin story of the project (~10:20) — Liz traces it from a CS Lewis course she took as a freshman at Brown, to founding a student society, to pitching the idea to Notre Dame's McGrath Institute. The challenge of reading loads & expanding to high schools (~17:30) — How professors handle the sheer volume of Inklings material, and the project's potential future cohort for high school and homeschool teachers. Next Week: At long last, The Silver Trumpet!

Key texts: Romans 11:17-32, Genesis 15:13-16, Acts 1:6-8, Revelation 21:1-4. Unsponsored resource shout-out: Bible Talk podcast from 9Marks and Southern Seminary.Topics discussed: modern Israel, Romans 11, partial hardening, the fullness of the Gentiles, “all Israel will be saved,” the olive tree, Gentiles being grafted in, hope for ethnic Jews, modern Israel as a nation-state, prophecy, anti-Semitism, justice for everyone in the region, and why Christian hope rests in Christ rather than political leaders, borders, military power, or prophecy charts.Send questions to saltybelieverunscripted@gmail.com. Find more resources at saltybeliever.com.

Sunday morning message from Pastor John.

We're joined by Fr. Ken Amadi, director of Church Life Africa and assistant professor of theology at the Augustine Institute, talks about mission partnership with the Augustine Institute. Dina Dow, director of evangelization and catechesis in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, will talk about the consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Dr. Tom Neal, Chief of Evangelization and Mission Engagement of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee with Catholic 101 segment: What does the upcoming feast of Corpus Christi teach us about the Eucharist?

Key texts: Romans 9:1-8, Romans 10:1-4, Romans 11:1-6, Romans 11:25-36. Unsponsored resource shout-out: Three Views on Israel and the Church: Perspectives on Romans 9-11. Topics discussed: Paul's grief over Israel's unbelief, God's promises not failing, physical descent and the children of promise, Israel stumbling over Christ, zeal without saving knowledge, the remnant, and why Romans 9 to 11 matters before talking about modern Israel. Send questions to saltybelieverunscripted@gmail.com. Find more resources at saltybeliever.com.

Sunday morning message from Pastor John.

What are we building? Pope Leo XIV puts that question to us in his new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence. The title itself echoes Mary's Magnificat — the song of a humanity whose grandeur is recognized in being lifted up by God, not in seizing heaven for itself. That grandeur, the Pope insists, is revealed in its fullness only in Christ, and threatened today by new forms of dehumanization.The encyclical takes its bearings from two biblical images: the Tower of Babel, where a unified language and a unified technology serve a project that aspires to reach heaven without God; and the rebuilding of Jerusalem under Nehemiah, where a city is reborn through prayer and the shared responsibility of all. Pope Leo asks us which of these we are building. Technology, he reminds us, is never neutral. It takes the character of those who devise, finance, and deploy it.Brett Robinson joins me today to help us read this encyclical. Brett is my colleague here in the McGrath Institute for Church Life, where he leads our efforts in Catholic Media Studies.Follow-up Resources:Magnifica Humanitas, Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XIV"Dilexit Nos – Part 2, a conversation with Abigail Favale and Brett Robinson," podcast episode via Church Life Today"Edge of Belief: UFO's, Technology, and the Catholic Imagination, with Brett Robinson," podcast episode via Church Life Today"AI, Ethics, and the Common Good, with Adam Kronk," podcast episode via Church Life Today"AI, Education, and Doing Hard Stuff, with Adam Kronk," podcast episode via Church Life Today"The Next Wave of Artificial Intelligence and Our Humanity, with Stephanie DePrez," podcast episode via Church Life Today"Dilexi Te: On Love for the Poor, with Fr. Cristian Mendoza Ovando," podcast episode via Church Life Today"Habemus Papam, with John Cavadini," podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this special episode of Upon Further Review Podcast, Cody Kitchen and Dr. John Hall sit down with longtime Field Street Baptist Church member Tanner Tilton for one of the most heartfelt and entertaining conversations the podcast has had. From violin music and cattle work to prayer meetings, popcorn ministry, and baseball stories, Tanner's sincerity and joy shine through the entire episode.Along the way, listeners hear stories about Tanner's baptism, his attempt to baptize the family cat, his nightly violin practice sessions, his legendary collection of box fans, and the unforgettable church camp melatonin story that longtime listeners may already remember. More than anything, though, this episode is a reminder of the beauty of faithful church life and the joy that comes from loving people well.Tanner's love for Jesus, his church family, and his service to others is evident throughout the conversation. It's funny, wholesome, and deeply encouraging all at once.

Church Life, “Final Ministry, Pt. 2”                                Acts 28:17-31Defense of the Witness (vv. 17-22)Testimony of the Witness (vv. 23-29) Ro. 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.; Gal. 2:15-16 15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.   2 Cor. 3:14-15 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.  Purpose of the Witness (vv. 30-31)2 Tim. 4:1a,2-5  I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, ... 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Church Life, “A Journey of Faith”                                Acts 27 The Voyage (vv. 1-12) 2 Cor. 11:25-28 three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[a] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.  The Storm (vv. 13-26)  The Shipwreck (vv. 27-44) 1 Pet. 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 3 Lies conquered by 3 facts to get you through your journey of faith: 1)      Jesus doesn't care. Facts: vv. 24-25; Ma. 4:38 Psa. 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble). 2)      The Strength of the Storm. Facts: Lu. 8:25b; Ma. 4:40 Psa. 77:16-19 16 When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. 17 The clouds poured down rain; We are in Danger. Fact: 1 Cor. 15:24-26      the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. 18 Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. 19 Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there!.  

Church Life, “Final Ministry, Pt. 1”                                Acts 28:1-16  A Miracle of Survival (vv. 1-6) Nu. 21:6-8 6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!”Jo. 3:14-16 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[g] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  A Miracle of Healing (vv. 7-10) Ma. 16:17-18 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”Ja. 5:13-15b  13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick....       A Meeting of Kindness (vv. 11-16) Rev. 22:8b-9 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”Ro. 1:10-12  10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 

TODAY'S TREASUREMay the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:5-87Send us a comment!Support the show

Sunday morning message from Pastor John.

Key texts: Ephesians 2:11-22, Galatians 3:16-29, 1 John 2:22-23, 1 Peter 2:4-10.Unsponsored resource shout-out: Reformed Sage.Resources mentioned: Discontinuity to Continuity by Benjamin Merkle and Covenantal and Dispensational Theologies: Four Views on the Continuity of Scripture.Topics discussed: replacement theology, dispensationalism, progressive dispensationalism, covenant theology, progressive covenantalism, continuity and discontinuity, Gentiles being brought near, Abraham's offspring, faith in Christ, one people of God, and why Romans 9 to 11 needs its own episode.Send questions to saltybelieverunscripted@gmail.com.Find more resources at saltybeliever.com.

When Pope Leo XIV issued his first apostolic exhortation, he chose a title drawn from the Book of Revelation: Dilexi te — "I have loved you." Those words, addressed to a community with little power and little standing, become in this document Christ's word to the poor of every age. The poor are not a problem to be managed. They are, the Pope insists, the place where Christ continues to speak.But who exactly are the poor? That question turns out to be less obvious than it sounds. Poverty, as Fr. Cristian Mendoza Ovando helps us see in this conversation, is not one thing. It is material and spiritual, negative and positive, something suffered and — in a different sense — something chosen. Any serious reading of Dilexi te has to reckon with that complexity.Fr. Cristian, who teaches at Santa Croce in Rome, joins me today following a lecture he gave on Dilexi te at the University of Notre Dame.Follow-up Resources:Dilexi Te, Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Leo XIV“Anthropological concerns regarding digital technologies,” by Fr. Cristian Mendoza Ovando, journal article via Church, Communication and Culture“The Sacred Heart of the New Encyclical,” by Leonard DeLorenzo, article on Dilexit Nos in Church Life Journal“The Church is the Sacrament of the Preferential Option for the Poor,” by John Cavadini, article in Church Life Journal“The Eucharist Commits Us to the Poor,” by John Cavadini, article in Church Life JournalChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Key texts: Matthew 2:13-15, Hosea 11:1, Matthew 4:1-11, John 1:14, Luke 22:20, Luke 24:44-47.Unsponsored resource shout-out: Biblical Theology by Nick Roark and Robert Cline, from 9Marks.Topics discussed: Jesus as the true Israel, Jesus succeeding where Israel failed, the stained glass illustration, the Davidic kingdom, Jesus as the true temple, questions about rebuilding the temple, the new covenant, and why Christians cannot jump from Abraham to modern Israel while bypassing Christ.Send questions to saltybelieverunscripted@gmail.com.Find more resources at saltybeliever.com.

What if church was meant to feel less like an event and more like a family? In thismessage kicking off our new series Church 101, we explore what the churchactually is, why it matters, and how community, belonging, and spiritual growthwere always meant to work together.Timestamps:3:59 – What the church actually is8:20 – New birth, hope, and spiritual family13:09 – A holy craving for growth16:21 – Why family is the church's dominant metaphorLinks: Connect: https://www.beacon.church/connect Subscribe:https://www.youtube.com/@beacon_church?sub_confirmation=1 Website:https://www.beacon.church Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beacon.church/

Key texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:22-28, Ezekiel 37:15-28, Psalm 117.Unsponsored resource shout-out: Dig Deeper by Nigel Beynon and Andrew Sach.Topics discussed: exile, covenant failure, prophetic restoration, the new covenant, the law written on the heart, cleansing, new hearts, the Spirit, one people under one King, and the nations in God's promises.Send questions to saltybeliever@gmail.com.Find more resources at saltybeliever.com.

Church Life, “Being a Christian Witness”                                Acts 26Complaint (vv. 1-3)  Conduct (vv. 4-11)Job 19:25-27a 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold..Conversion (vv. 12-18)2 Cor. 4:4,6 (2 Cor. 5:17-20) 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God... 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.Call (vv. 19-29)I Jo. 1:6-7, 2:29b 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.... 29 ...... be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.Evangelism Preparation: Closed hands Open eyes Open doors Open mouth Open hands Conclusion (vv. 30-32)  1 attachment

There is a lot of animosity out there, a lot of distrust, and a lot of fear and persistent anxiety about so many things. Where, in all that, can we go to find words that bring life? In particular, where might we find books that rise above the morass of the day to show us art that builds on the foundations of truth, beauty, and goodness? Providing a place that does just this, where a community of thinkers, writers, and readers are engaged in the common mission of preserving literate culture for generations to come … is precisely the mission of the new imprint from Word on Fire, called Luminor.By publishing novels, short stories, memoirs, poetry, and more, Luminor brings out buried riches from the treasury of Catholic literature and highlights fresh voices among writers formed by Catholicity in our time. Joining me today is Katy Carl, editor of Luminor, to share with us why this mission is so important today and what we can expect to find in this new imprint.Links:Learn more about Luminor at https://www.wordonfire.org/luminor “When Nobody Reads Anymore: Positionality, Prophecy, and the Artist's Vocation” by Katy Carl, article via Church Life Journal“Why Literature Still Matters, with Jason Baxter,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Graham Greene's ‘The End of the Affair,' A Conversation with Josh McManaway,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Dilexit Nos—Part 1, a conversation with Josh McManaway and Melissa Moschella,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Dilexit Nos—Part 2, a conversation with Abigail Favale and Brett Robinson,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Sunday morning message from Pastor John.

Key texts: Joshua 21:43-45, 2 Samuel 7, 2 Kings 17, 2 Kings 25, Luke 1:32-33.Unsponsored resource shout-out: The Charles Simeon Trust.Resources mentioned: Expository Preaching by David Helm and Listen Up! by Christopher Ash.Topics discussed: the promised land, Joshua's declaration that God kept his promises, the Davidic covenant, Israel's covenant failure, the divided kingdom, exile, restoration, and why the Bible's answer is bigger than a quick political slogan.Send questions to saltybeliever@gmail.com.Find more resources at saltybeliever.com.

In this episode, Pastor Dan sits down with Isaac Sato for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about faith that doesn't rely on dramatic turning points—but instead is shaped through steady, ordinary faithfulness.Isaac reflects on growing up in the Church, where simple songs, weekly worship, and baptism formed a foundation long before he could fully articulate belief. Over time, that childlike faith was tested and refined through questions about science, evolution, and the nature of truth itself.Together, they explore:-Why reason is not the enemy of faith—but a gift meant to strengthen it-How engaging difficult questions can lead to deeper, more resilient belief-The role of liturgy, sacraments, and repetition in shaping a lasting faith-Tensions between different Christian traditions and what's at stake theologically-A richer vision of eternal life—not as static, but as endless joy in the presence of an infinite GodIsaac also shares how his understanding of the Christian life has matured—from youthful assumptions about grace to a deeper appreciation for repentance as a continual “return home.”This episode pushes back against the pressure for sensational testimonies and instead highlights the quiet, powerful beauty of a life formed by Word, sacrament, and community.If you've ever wrestled with doubt, struggled to articulate your faith, or wondered how Christianity holds up under intellectual scrutiny, this conversation invites you to think deeply—and return again to what is true.Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!Support the show

Key texts: Exodus 19:3-6, Deuteronomy 7:6-11, Psalm 20:7.Unsponsored resource shout-out: In the Year of Our Lord by Sinclair Ferguson.Topics discussed: Israel as God's chosen people, deliverance before the law, covenant responsibility, holiness, vocation, and why “chosen” does not mean ethnic superiority.Send questions to saltybeliever@gmail.com.Find more resources at saltybeliever.com.

When you are a new parent, you may desire a genuine religious experience, but your young child often has other ideas. It's not that the child is opposed to God per se; just sort of opposed to your plans and schedule and rhythm. You know what that's like, right? The drama of the pew at Mass, the irregularity of morning and nighttime rituals, the joyful uncertainty of a rapidly developing young human being who has urges and powers and interests of their own. The conversation on our show today is about the desires of faith and the practice of parenting. It is about creating beautiful things for small hands and new eyes; of building up the basic habits of a life of faith; and even of parents and children, older folks and the youngest folks, coming to share their lives together more deeply around things that help you to think, move, and rest in sacred ways within ordinary life.My guest is Raquel Rose, founder and creative director of The Little Rose Shop, which seeks to bring the faith into everyday life with Catholic and Christian gifts and books.Follow-up Resources:Find ways to bring the faith into everyday life at thelittleroseshop.com My First Examen (board book) at The Little Rose ShopMorning Offering Prayer Catholic Mug at The Little Rose ShopLearn More about the McGrath Institute for Church Life's program on childhood and the liturgical imagination, Contours of Wonder“Grace for the Hard Days of Early Motherhood, with Jessica Mannen Kimmet,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Parenting as Complex and Beautiful Vocation, with Holly Taylor Coolman,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“The Joy of Life, with Maggie Garnett,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Today, we dive into your questions, while also sharing a Bible study on Philippians, where I address, “Living as a Healthy Church.” I encourage listeners to slow down and take in the beauty of comfort, consolation, fellowship, affection and mercy, in such a way that welcomes our hearts to recieve the nurishment and health we […]

Today's guest, Dr. Lisa Gulino, is a lay ecclesial minister with over 30 years' experience in pastoral ministry and teaching in higher education.  She has served in Diocesan Ministries for a total of 22 years—Diocese of Fall River and Diocese of Providence.  Additionally, she has several years in Parish Ministry.     Lisa received her Doctorate in Ministry from the Catholic University of America in Spiritual Formation with emphasis in evangelization and catechesis. She wrote her dissertation on the spiritual and faith formation of the domestic church.   Since 2007 Lisa has served as an adjunct professor at St. Joseph College for both theology and pastoral ministry courses. Her work with the Congregation of Holy Cross began in 2018 as a facilitator and advisor with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame's STEP Program.  And she also serves as a faculty member for the Permanent Diaconate program for the Diocese of Fall River.   Lisa grew up in Attleboro, Massachusetts in the shadow of our Lady's Mantle as she lived close to Lasalette Shrine and visited often with her family. She is the fifth of six children.  She is the proud aunt of 11 nieces and nephews and 14 great nieces and nephews.    Links: The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life Links to the Research

Dr Adam Koontz and Col Willie Grills talk about Policy Based Governance in the church, the life and works of Dr. Arthur Carl Piepkorn, and unapproachable pastors. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Sign up for Memento, a Lutheran devotional for men. Thanks to our sponsors, Ad Crucem and Gnesio Health Dr Adam Koontz - Redeemer Lutheran Church Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny