Podcast appearances and mentions of preston sprinkle

Text us your questions!We talk with Preston Sprinkle about his book From Genesis to Junia and the long road from a John MacArthur shaped complementarian framework to an egalitarian view that affirms women teaching, preaching, and leading in the church.We dig into the passages that always show up in this debate (especially 1 Timothy 2, along with Paul's wider world), but we keep pulling the camera back to ask harder questions about biblical interpretation and hermeneutics. Is the Bible a blank slate on gender roles, or does it carry the fingerprints of patriarchal ancient contexts even while pushing against them? What do we do with the fact that sincere Christians read the same Greek and Hebrew texts differently, and that those conclusions affect real people's lives and callings?Then we press into methodology and authority. Preston lays out why he treats Scripture as the ultimate authority for Christian theology, and Kyle challenges what that claim means when canon, interpretation, and experience are always in the mix. Randy brings the pastoral angle, asking how we deal with morally troubling texts and why “the Bible says it” is rarely the whole story. We also touch the “slippery slope” fear that egalitarianism automatically leads to affirming views on sexuality and why Preston thinks that framing misses the mark.If you're just done with engaging with conservative, Bible-based approaches to these kinds of questions, we get it. But if you care how folks with a voice in that world are talking about women pastors, egalitarianism vs complementarianism, biblical authority, deconstruction, or church power, this one will interest you.=====Want to support us?The best way is to subscribe to our Patreon. Annual memberships are available for a 10% discount.If you'd rather make a one-time donation, you can contribute through our PayPal.Other important info:Rate & review us on Apple & SpotifyFollow us on social media at @PPWBPodcastWatch & comment on YouTubeEmail us at pastorandphilosopher@gmail.comCheers!

We're kicking off a brand new summer season of the So Good Sisterhood Podcast with one of our favorite kinds of episodes: a real and honest Q+A with Pastor Julie and Pastor Karissa!

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Dr. Derwin L. Gray, co-founder and lead pastor of Transformation Church. Since launching in 2010, Transformation Church has become a multi-ethnic, multi-generational movement impacting thousands locally and globally. In this conversation, Derwin tackles one of the most pressing—and often avoided—questions facing church leaders today: what are we actually multiplying? Are we forming disciples of Jesus—or unintentionally shaping people more through culture, politics, and media than through the gospel? Derwin challenges leaders to examine the deeper currents shaping their churches and to recover a bold, Christ-centered vision for discipleship. What are we actually multiplying? // Derwin raises a provocative concern: many churches are focused on growth, expansion, and multiplication—but not always clear on what is being multiplied. Are we producing disciples rooted in the gospel, or consumers attracted to experiences? He warns that without intentional focus, churches can unintentionally replicate shallow faith, cultural Christianity, or even ideological distortion. The goal of multiplication must not simply be more campuses or larger attendance, but deeper, more faithful discipleship. A discipleship crisis beneath the surface. // The issue isn't that churches lack discipleship. It's that many people are being discipled by the wrong influences. Social media, political ideologies, and cultural narratives are shaping beliefs and behaviors, often more powerfully than Scripture. This creates a “wrong discipleship” problem, where people identify as Christians but reflect values that are inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus. The challenge for leaders is to re-center discipleship around Christ, ensuring that people are being formed by the gospel rather than the surrounding culture. The danger of ideological captivity. // Derwin speaks candidly about the ways the church can become entangled in political ideologies—whether on the right or the left. He specifically critiques the rise of Christian nationalism, defining it as the fusion of the church's identity with the identity of a nation-state. This, he argues, distorts the gospel by elevating political allegiance above allegiance to Christ. At the same time, he acknowledges the influence of secular progressivism. Both extremes, in different ways, can pull believers away from the centrality of Jesus. The call is not to disengage from society, but to engage from a distinctly gospel-centered perspective. Recovering a gospel-shaped identity. // At the heart of Derwin's message is a call to rediscover what it means to be shaped by the gospel. The good news of Jesus is not merely about individual salvation—it creates a new family across ethnic, cultural, and social lines. This vision is central to Transformation Church's identity as a multi-ethnic community. Derwin emphasizes that the gospel reconciles not only vertically (between people and God), but horizontally (between people and one another). When churches lose this vision, they lose their witness in a divided world. Courageous and compassionate leadership. // Leading in this cultural moment requires what Derwin calls “courageous compassion.” Pastors must be willing to speak truth clearly while loving people deeply. This means addressing difficult issues without fear of losing people, while also avoiding harsh or divisive rhetoric. Derwin acknowledges that this approach can lead to criticism from multiple sides, but he emphasizes that faithfulness to Christ must take priority over maintaining comfort or approval. Practical steps for leaders. // For pastors who feel their churches have been shaped more by culture than by Christ, Derwin offers simple but powerful starting points: pray, repent, and refocus on the gospel. He encourages leaders to equip themselves through study and to guide their teams in rediscovering a biblical framework for discipleship. Most importantly, leaders must model what they teach, demonstrating lives rooted in Christ rather than captured by cultural narratives. A renewed vision for the church. // Ultimately, Derwin calls the church back to its prophetic voice. The church is not meant to mirror the divisions of the world but to offer a compelling alternative: a community shaped by love, unity, and truth. When the church remains rooted in Jesus, it becomes a powerful witness to a watching world. To learn more about Transformation Church and Dr. Derwin L. Gray, his teaching, and resources, visit transformationchurch.tc and derwinlgray.com. Plus, pre-order his book, It’s Time to Heal: Four God-Given Steps to Restore What Life Has Shattered. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it's time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, so glad that you decided to tune in to today’s episode of the unSeminary podcast. Really looking forward to this. I had a fragment of a conversation with a dear friend at the Exponential Conference and I want to have more of that today with you listening in. And this is a conversation that I know is impacting people. I think 100% of our church is in the country today. It’s something that we all are seeing. It’s impacting us. We’ve got to be thinking about this. Rich Birch — Honored to have Dr. Derwin Gray with us, incredible leader from Transformation Church. He and his wife, Vicki, co-founded the church in 2010. It’s a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, mission-shaped community community with two locations in South Carolina, as well as Church Online. He’s an award-winning author of multiple books. He’s been on the podcast in the past and is one of the people who, he’s called me out on the podcast before, and I have taken those lessons with me. And so I’m I'm hoping that happens with you today. Derwin, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Hey, man, thank you. So good to be with you.Rich Birch — No, it’s it’s honest. You know, been multiple times you’ve been on the show and I I’ve walked away being like, man, okay, Derwin just, he’s just pushed me and and got me to think different, which I really appreciate that. So for folks that don’t know about Transformation, kind of tell us a little bit about the church and give us the context you’re in, that sort of thing.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, man. So ah my wife and I co-planted Transformation Church in 2010 in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. And so neither my wife and nor I grew up in church, and both of us came to faith in our mid to late 20s, and primarily through people at work. There was a woman at my wife’s job who shared Christ with her. I had a teammate named Steve Grant, with the Indianapolis Colts, where I played in the NFL. We called him the naked preacher because after practice, he’d dry off, take a shower, wrap a towel around his waist, and he’d share the gospel. And over five years, I came to faith. My wife came to faith before me. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And all we knew was this. If Jesus is this incredible, this forgiving, this gracious, this is the greatest news there is in the world. And so we didn’t know what words like evangelism and discipleship meant. All we knew was this. I want to know him. I want to make him known. I want to know his word.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so that was in 1997, 1998. We moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to play for the Carolina Panthers, and I got injured. And so all I could do was read my Bible, rehab my knee. And the following year, both my wife and I said, you know what? I think my NFL time is done.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — What are we going to do? We don’t know. So I got an invitation to speak at a youth event to share my testimony. And I said, well, what is that? They were like, a testimony is where you share your story of how you met Christ and what what took place. So I did that. People started calling me.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And in 1999, other Christians says, you guys need a nonprofit organization. You know, we’re like, what does that mean? So we started a ministry called One Heart at a Time. I would travel and speak. She would organize everything. We served at our church. Well, the longer we did that, we saw incredible fruit, but we also saw that wherever I would preach, it was ethnically segregated. It was it was really weird, right?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — I’m like, wait a second. America is integrated, but the church is basically segregated. And so I began to ask questions and I got lousy answers. But as we read the Bible, it was like the early church was Jews and Gentiles. That’s what it was. It was a multi-ethnic church. Jesus not only forgave sins, but he created a family with different colored skins. Not only is that the future of the church in Revelation 7:9, but that’s the present reality of the church that intrinsic to the gospel is ethnic reconciliation. What good would it be Jesus forgives you but don’t love your brother and sister? So the cross is vertical and horizontal. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So we were frustrated. And then we just sense God say, well, you can criticize or you can create. And so ultimately that led to planting Transformation Church in the south area of Charlotte, North Carolina, where actually physically in what’s called Indian Land, South Carolina, and our other campus is in Lake Wiley, South Carolina, but it’s really the greater Charlotte area.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And our church is more ethnically diverse than our community. And I want to be very, very clear. One of the reasons why we are ethnically diverse is because of the good news of Jesus. Like I explained, Jesus not only forgives sins, but he creates a family with different colored skins. And so for us, ethnic unity in Christ not only enhances our discipleship, but it enhances our witness to a looking and watching world which is filled with so much division. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And over the last 16 years, God has done miraculous things. We’ve seen 9,000 people come to faith, thousands be baptized. God has given us massive influence. We also have what’s called the Multi-Ethnic Church Roundtable, where we’ve equipped 800 leaders from around the world to do gospel-centered multi-ethnic ministry. We’re also in the process, Leon’s Crump and I, of launching what’s called the Promise Collective, which is going to be an intentionally multi-ethnic gospel-centered church planting network.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So a lot of wonderful things are taking place. And we think it’s pretty cool that God planted us in the state of South Carolina where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. And God has used this church here to influence not only the church in America, but even around the world. Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So we’re grateful.Rich Birch — Well, I, yeah, there’s I respect you on so many levels. And, and, you know, they these issues around being a multi-ethnic church are, you know, at the core of that. And just to respect you on for lots of what you’ve done. and And we ended up at this in this conversation, just to kind of bring everybody up to speed, we ended up in this conversation at Exponential that I leaned forward as just declaring my, ah you know, a little bit about me for folks that are listening in. So I am Canadian, don’t hold it against me.Rich Birch — But I’ve served mostly American churches in the churches I work with. And most of the 95% of the listeners of this podcast are in the States. I was in the States for a bunch of years. And that may become a little more obvious as we’re talking here why that’s why I’m talking about that context. But one of the things in this conversation that I heard you, the question you asked, which made me lean forward and then where it kind of unfolded from there is you asked the question, what are we actually multiplying? Exponential is obviously the global conference for multiplication, but you were pushing us to think about what are we actually multiplying? What is the the core of that? Can you unpack that for us?What were you thinking of when we started talking about that that day?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, sure, sure. Just to provide either even a little bit more context is it was a gathering of of very large churches. Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And the question is what’s going well, what’s not going well? And so typically in those types of rooms, I like to listen. And so as I was listening, I was hearing no disrespect, but a lot of the same.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so I kind of waited for everybody to to finish what they were saying. And I said, here’s something that Transformation Church does well, is we are equipping our people to stand against secular progressivism and Christian nationalism. And I said, what are we exactly multiplying? Because the state of the church the United States America is not good. It’s not healthy. It is divided. In many cases, it is it’s mean. Shallow theology, not loving our neighbors as God commands us to be loved. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So so my question was, are we just putting up more boxes for consumers to come in and consume because we have good music, good human-centered preaching. You know, we’re not going to mess with your idols. We’re not going to topple your idols at all. And yeah, you can invite your friends when we get more campuses. Because if that’s just what we’re doing, don’t sign me up for that. I don’t I don’t I don’t want any parts of that. That’s how we got to where we are now. And so you as a Canadian, here in America, the witness of the church is not very good. Like when I talk to people who are unbelievers, I have to untangle…Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — …politics from the gospel because unfortunately there’s been an unholy wedding, particularly on the far right with aspects of Christianity, which has distorted and deformed. I think the secular progressivism is pretty easy to see, but I think the Christian nationalism is a lot harder. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Now, let me define what I mean by that. So first of all, Loving your country is a good thing. That’s called loving your neighbors. You love yourself. So my fourth grandfather, Moses Davis, fought for the Union, the colored cavalry of Virginia… Rich Birch — Wow. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — …against the treasonous Confederate whatever it was. So in my blood is patriotism for my nation. America’s my home. But to love my neighbors, I love myself means not only do love America, but I love the entire world. And then as a Christian, we have a global body that we love. There are more followers of Jesus of color outside of America than the United States of America.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Now, what do I mean by Christian nationalism? This is what I mean. Christian nationalism is the attempt to fuse the identity and mission of the church with the identity and power of a nation state, treating the nation as a primary vehicle of God’s purposes rather than seeing God’s kingdom as a global Jesus-centered reality that transcends all nations.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — By that definition, Christian nationalism is a heresy. Because it basically says, if you don’t think like us, you can’t be a follower of Jesus. And so you’re adding to the works of Christ. And so Christian nationalism has infiltrated much of what I would say the majority culture, Caucasian church in America. Not all, but a lot. Where Christians, what what it means to follow Jesus has turned into a far right, almost authoritarianism versus, no, no, you have the right to vote in the United States of America. But as Christians, we don’t have a right to idolize nor demonize those who vote differently than us.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — I’m not sure Americans know this, but most people in the world are not Republican or Democrat. Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So if you say your faith is based on what you vote for, you’re adding to the work of Christ.Rich Birch — So, so Derwin, I appreciate you. So I’ve not heard a lot of people talk about this. This seems to be, I don’t know, it seems like something happened post COVID and the church in general, there was this like shakeup in the church in general where, you know, lots of people ended up in different places and it was like, we’ve become more divided than ever before. And I do think that there’s a significant dividing line at or close to what you’re talking about here, that it’s like, there’s a, there’s a new voice around Christian nationalism that seems to be gaining influence. Is that, is that, is that ah a false perception or is that the way you see it as well?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — No, you are 100% right. And it is a well-orchestrated, well-funded plan. With social media and the rise of social media influencers, paid propagandists can go on and infuse their propaganda into people immediately.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And here’s and here’s the thing. Populism does not require much intellect. All it requires is somebody to be angry at who’s taking from you. So the more divided we are as people, the more the oligarchs have power and the money that they make.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — They own the social media. They own the algorithms. I mean, for goodness sakes, Elon Musk promised people a million dollars to vote in Pennsylvania for the election. How is that even legal? Right. Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So people are being inundated. Like we have family members that don’t even talk to each other anymore because they have red hat or a blue shirt, right? And so it has been in increasingly effective. But here’s the thing, Rich, that’s so wild to me. The admin the the Trump administration greenlit the FDA approval of an abortion pill. And I don’t hear any evangelical saying anything about it.Rich Birch — Right. Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And even when you look at the Supreme Court now saying states can choose whether you do abortion or not, that’s pro-choice. You know, what used to be the Republican Party, small government, family values, those things are way gone. Rich Birch — Right. Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so not only has Christian nationalism changed like, or not only has this current administration changed what the Republican Party was, but in many cases, it’s changed even so much of the church. And it is wild to listen to people in 2016 who said one thing, who say a totally different thing now.Rich Birch — Yeah.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — It’s hard.Rich Birch — Well, yeah. And I so I think the thing you’ve, you’re putting a finger on and it’s, I appreciate you being willing to talk about and unpack it is there’s definitely like a broader cultural conversation that’s happening around these issues. That is for sure. We’re seeing that. And that’s having an impact on our ability to disciple the people in our churches or our people are being discipled by social media, by the algorithm, by YouTube And that can create or is creating a discipleship crisis in many of our churches. How do you try to find the line between those two to say, hey, we’re going to talk about the discipleship stuff… Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah. Rich Birch — …without getting dragged in on the you know the exterior? How do we how do we draw those lines in a way that makes sense?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah. Yeah. So, so, so what I would say is we don’t have a discipleship problem. We have a wrong discipleship problem. Rich Birch — Okay, that’s good. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Because somebody is making students out of somebody.Rich Birch — Right, sure.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so are we becoming students of Jesus? that’s That’s the issue. And so what I say is this, how a person votes, that’s their conscience. But how do you treat the people who don’t vote like you? Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So for example, research shows black Americans are more socially conservative, more biblically committed than white Americans. But 90%, I’m sorry, but black American Christians, but black American Christians, 90% vote for Democrats. So how can you be more socially conservative, more biblically committed, but you vote for Democrat?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Well, because they don’t take everything that’s in the Democratic Party, just like most people who voted for Trump don’t take everything with him. And so we have to give each other the latitude and the grace. And there’s also pro-life Democrats. And not everybody who voted for Trump is evil. Not everybody who votes Democrat is evil. But the powers that be want us divided. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s true. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And when I and when I talk to my friends from Canada, when I talk to my friends that are pastors from around the world, Norway, different parts of Europe, Australia, England, and they’re going, what has happened to you guys?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — I can tell you what’s what’s taken place is our faith is being distorted and driving it is fear and hatred.Rich Birch — Yeah. So I would echo that. The joke I’ve made, both with American leaders and leaders from other parts of the world, is there is a segment of the body of Christ that seems very angry about the love of God. Like they’re and they’re very fearful. Like it’s all it’s all anger and fear driven. And I don’t know whether, and it probably is related to the algorithms, but like we’re hearing from these people so much more than, than we used to. It used to be an echo chamber of people that lived in so much fear, but now it’s just out there. It seems to be in, in our, you know, in our feeds all the time.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, what used to be on the fringes is now on the main street, right? And so we need to re-gospel ourselves. We need a greater commitment to Christ. So, for example, life in the womb is precious and sacred. That’s not conservative. That’s gospel. That’s biblical.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Caring for the dignity of undocumented people in America is not liberal. That’s gospel. Wanting border control is not conservative. That is understanding that a nation has to have borders to flourish. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Believing that marriage is between a man and a woman, we believe that’s biblical. But loving and respecting LGBTQ people is not liberal. Loving my neighbors as I love myself. And if I have any hope of anybody ah coming to Jesus, they’re not going come to Jesus because I’m yelling at them and I’m angry. I’m going to love them and pursue them just like we’ve done here at our church.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so I feel like what we’ve done in in in the church is we’ve taken a 250 year old country called America. And then specifically the last 10 years, we’ve made that the hermeneutic to understand the gospel.Rich Birch — Yeah, right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — We’ve made that the lenses that we look through to determine the gospel. Whereas what I’m saying, let’s go back to the text. Let’s go back to the early church, the book of Acts, Paul’s letters, the gospels. That’s where our faith comes from. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Like I have lobbied on Capitol Hill with Republicans and Democrats about immigration reform. We need border security, but we can also secure the dignity of human beings, especially human beings who are undocumented and don’t have a record against them. Right. So there has to be a process to have strong borders, but also to hold to people’s hearts.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — But but at the end of the day, right at the end of the day, we are people of the Lamb, not the elephant or the donkey.Rich Birch — So good. So good. So what’s the hardest part about leading in a church that really refuses to be captured by either side? I feel like there’s pressure on from both political parties to they, you know, I think somewhere along the line, they realize, wow, there’s a lot of power in these churches. And how do we you know, how do we kind of infiltrate or how do we gain that? What’s it like to lead a church that’s trying to, that’s refusing to be captured by both sides is wants to keep Jesus ahead. What does that cost? How is that, you know, what are some of the pressures of that? What have been some telltale signs for you as you’ve led at Transformation in this front?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, um i would i would I would say, Rich, sometimes I’ll get a critical email and a eventually those people will leave. But but but but for the most part, I mean, we’re 16 years in, it’s our ethos, it’s our character. People know who we are. They know why we are. And so like we’re flourishing, we’re growing. It’s beautiful. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — There’s a matter of fact, I got some messages earlier today just saying, hey, thank you. Like I was just about done with Christianity and I found Transformation Church, right? I mean, this Jesus, you’re this is what I want to be a part of. So I think respecting and loving all people, even though you disagree with them. And the thing that I said, I did a series in 2024 in the fall before the election on on the Beatitudes.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And my whole thing was how you vote is up to your conscious. How you treat people is not up for debate. We’re called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. And so in our church, I’m sure we got people all over the political spectrum. I’m a registered independent myself.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — But something that I think really landed well with our people is this: 99.9% of all followers of Jesus for 2,000 years and even now have never voted Republican and have never voted Democrat.Rich Birch — Right. Right. That’s good.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Our faith is in Christ and Christ alone. And America is what’s called a constitutional republic democracy. It is not a theocracy. It is governed by a constitution, not the Bible. And so, yes, I want believers in place not to do some kind of spiritual Sharia law, but to make sure that the Constitution is upheld, which gives life and liberty and justice, not for some, but for all.Rich Birch — What would you say, you know, I’ve often thought around this, these, this issue and we’re kind of related issues. I have to think back to Billy Graham and I think like, man, we don’t know what, don’t what he’d be doing today. Like what would, I’ve heard this story that and in the fifties he gathered a group of what at the time, they you know they self afflicted they gave themselves the title of fundamentalist and they said, hey, we gotta stop calling ourselves fundamentalist because that word is so loaded in our culture. It feels like evangelical is like that today. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah.Rich Birch — It is when people ask me, are you evangelical? I’ll say, well, it depends on what you mean by evangelical because it has so much freight behind it. Do you think there is a place for kind of a broader discussion? How, how can we continue to try to create a middle here that where people can actually try to shed these, like you say, the Lamb and the donkey and, or the, the, the elephant and the donkey and, and focus on the Lamb. How do we do that going forward? How do we create those kinds of places where those kinds of conversations can continue to happen?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, you know, so let me answer the first question first is when I preached in Norway a few years ago, the people said, thank you for being so evangelical. And it had nothing to do with politics. So the term evangelical comes from the Greek word, which means good news. So it’s never meant to be a political voting block. Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — It’s never meant to be an ethnicity. It is good news people. So in Europe, I say I’m evangelical because it goes well. Here in America, I say I am shaped by the gospel. I’m a Christian that’s shaped by the gospel. Rich Birch — That’s good language.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — I love God and I love my neighbors. I love myself. So I think we have a fundamental gospel problem in the American church. If you simply think the good news is Jesus died for your sins, now you don’t go to hell, then your discipleship is going to be very reductionistic. It’s going to be very individualistic.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, his ascension and then sending the Spirit, is not only do we spend eternity with him, but as brothers and sisters, we’re equally righteous, equally redeemed, equally the temple of the Holy Spirit, equally God’s children. So if all those things are true equally, then by definition, we are the body of Christ. So if you hurt, then I hurt, but we don’t think that way.Rich Birch — Right.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So we have to change the way we think. Paul says in Philippians 2.3, do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but consider others better than yourselves. Verse five is “for you have the mind of Christ”. And so what we’ve been able to do here at Transformation Church is really move people deeper to the gospel. If you listen to one of my messages, you will hear gospel. That’s why we are the way we are. And the gospel challenges idols.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — When President Obama was president, I would get emails, “Oh you must be a Republican.” And then when President Trump, “You must be a Democrat.” I’m like, no, I’m an independent, but I’m called to be prophetic and to equip us to not be captivated by the zeitgeist…Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — …the spirit of the age. When the church loses her prophetic witness, we’ve lost everything.Rich Birch — That’s good.Rich Birch — Yeah, that that that names something that you put a finger on there, on something that I’d love you to unpack a little bit more. How do you do that as a pastor? Because I’ve seen you do that consistently. It’s like, how how do we be that prophetic voice, speak with clarity to ultimately point people back to Jesus, not be captured by just the winds of the day?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Be courageously compassionate. Rich Birch — That’s good.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Be courageously compassionate. I believe, you know, so I have, I have, I have talked to pastors who lead churches that may be, you know, center a little bit left. And well, if I talk about this issue too much, people may leave. Then I’ve heard other people like, well, if I talk about about this, the MAGA people may leave. And it’s like, well, Are you concerned about people leaving or are you concerned about honoring the call that God has given you? Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And one day you have to face him and you’re going to say, well, you know, what Lord, I was afraid people were going to leave. Like you can be courageous and compassionate simultaneously.Rich Birch — That’s good.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — So I, there are people on both sides of the aisle that passionately and deeply love Jesus, but have different perspectives politically. Now, Christian nationalism, that is a whole different species that that has to be lovingly challenged. And my job at Transformation Church is to equip our people and to be a shepherd because there are false prophets and wolves that are coming.Rich Birch — There’s a ton here. I really appreciate that. For a pastor that’s listening in today that’s thinking, man, I look at my people and I think maybe I they have been discipled more by cable news than by scripture. And I maybe haven’t done everything I could could have done. I haven’t been clear with compassion. I’ve just been, I’ve just kind of let this happen. What would you say some of the first steps that you would say for a for a leader like that?Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, pray, repent, pray, repent. Take your elders and your staff through a book by Preston Sprinkle called “Exiles in Babylon” or the book by Michael Byrd and N.T. Wright. Both of them deal with you know how to be a faithful witness in this time of political division. But before you go out and share, make sure that you are equipped. But also choose not to be partisan.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Rich, the Epstein Files is one of the biggest cover-ups in American history. We’re talking about precious kids who were taking advantage of. And I mean, where is the prophetic voice that this is wrong, regardless of who’s in it? This is wrong and it demands justice. We as God’s people are going to be held accountable to equip this. Like, this is serious. Like, I’ve heard people say, well, there’s bigger problems in the world. No, there’s not.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Derwin, this has been fantastic. I want to point people towards, you’ve got a new book that’s coming out. That’s like like a huge left-hand turn here, but just looking at it, I think this could is is connected, obviously, to what we’re talking about in today’s conversation. It comes out this fall.Rich Birch — It’s called it’s a time or “It’s Time to Heal: Four God-Given Steps to Restore What Life Has Shattered”. Tell us a little bit about this book, and I and I want to get people to you know actually pre-order this thing.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, man. So basically the last seven years, what I have seen from followers of Christ is we’re the walking wounded. We are, we are just stuck. We have allowed our traumas, our histories, our pains, our failures, the way we’ve been hurt to keep us in a position of hurt. And we’ve just circled and circled. And then, a lot of preaching deals with behavior modification and doesn’t get to the root. And so I’ve just been like, you know what, God, I want to help God’s people. Right. And it starts with helping myself.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And what I do is I really take a theology of who we are in Christ. I take neuroscience and psychology and marry them in spiritual formationRich Birch — Love it.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And it’s by far the best book that I’ve ever written. I can’t wait for people to see the endorsements from people like Dr. Daniel Amen, Craig Groeschel, Christine Caine. It’s by far the most important book I’ve ever written and the best book I’ve ever written. And I believe that it can really help people heal. Like really understanding that trauma gets in our nervous system. It’s not just think harder, do more. Like we have to learn how this is embodied inside of us. Dr. Derwin L. Gray — And so, man, it transformed me writing it. And what I do is I walk the people through an acronym. The the book is in four parts and the acronym HEAL. H stands for honest about what what happened. E, expect hard. A, accept what happened and L, live from love, not for love. And I share some incredible stories in there. And so, yeah, I’m really, really looking forward to people healing.Rich Birch — Well, yeah, I would encourage people to, we’ll link to that in the show notes and all that. But I think it’s connected in that I think I think the extremes on both ends politically, they’ve picked up on kind of the pain in the zeitgeist. And they’ve they’ve said, hey, the solution is is is the other side is the enemy and we got to do something to tear them down. And we know that just won’t work. At the end of the day, it’s Jesus transforming our lives. It’s him restoring us to who we are. And I think this could be a great tool for folks as they’re wrestling with that. So I’m excited for that book to come out. Looking forward to that. And we’ll we’ll link to all that. Rich Birch — Any kind of final words as we wrap up today? I really appreciate you unpacking this a bit more and taking some time to, you know, kind of let us chat a little bit about it.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, two thoughts. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44 and 45, bless those who persecute you. And I said, love your enemies. And then Jesus said, you will know my disciples because they love one another. Refuse to let anger and hatred and division guide you.Rich Birch — That’s good. So good. You said two things. You had two you that and one other thing.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Well, yeah, it was it was Matthew 5 and you’re on…yeah.Rich Birch — Oh, I see. Right, right, right. Yep. Okay. That’s good. Nice. Where if people want to track with you or with the church, where do we want to send them online? Just as we wrap up today’s call conversation.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Yeah, just go to derwinlgray.com, derwinlgray.comRich Birch — Nice. That’s great. Dr. Derwin, I just want to honor you. You’re an incredible leader. Thank you for being here today and helping us think through these issues. Thank you.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Thank you, my friend.Rich Birch — Take care.Dr. Derwin L. Gray — Appreciate you.

Preston Sprinkle studied the full biblical narrative on women in ministry inductively, without an agenda. From Genesis to Paul, we discuss what he found and where it led him.  We also tackle what faithfulness to scripture looks like, and how opening your mind and changing your view can make you more biblically faithful rather than less.

What does the Bible actually say about women in church leadership—and are we asking the wrong questions? In this episode, Dru Johnson sits down with biblical scholar Preston Sprinkle to explore the complex, often misunderstood topic of gender roles in Scripture. Drawing from his book From Genesis to Junia, Sprinkle shares his “exegetical journey,” a multi-year study that avoids predetermined conclusions and instead carefully examines key biblical texts. Together, they challenge modern assumptions often imposed on Scripture, including Western ideas about equality, hierarchy, and leadership. The conversation highlights how women are portrayed throughout the Bible—from influential figures in the Old Testament to faithful disciples in the Gospels—and why these narratives matter for interpreting passages like 1 Timothy 2. They also unpack how leadership functioned in the early church, revealing a more fluid and diverse structure than many assume today. Rather than offering simplistic answers, this episode invites listeners to wrestle with the full biblical witness, appreciate its complexity, and approach the conversation with humility, patience, and deeper study. Whether you're complementarian, egalitarian, or still exploring, this discussion offers fresh insight into one of the church's most debated topics. You can buy Dr. Preston Sprinkle's latest book here: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780830785803_from-genesis-to-junia? We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 The Journey of Understanding Women in Leadership 02:58 Cultural Context and Biblical Interpretation 13:04 Women in the Old Testament vs. New Testament 18:11 Exegetical Challenges and Practical Applications 23:42 The Complexity of Prescriptive and Descriptive Narratives 25:50 Theological Rationale in Creation Order 27:39 Desire and Headship: A Deeper Look 28:09 Authority and Epistemic Roles in Relationships 29:37 Leadership Dynamics in the Early Church 32:43 Paul's Perspective on Gender Roles 36:59 Women in Paul's Ministry: A Closer Examination 40:00 Cultural Context and Gender Stereotypes 41:50 Celebrating Gender Differences in Leadership  

A Scholarly Discussion on Women, Leadership, and the Church Preston Sprinkle's latest book, From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search For What The Bible Really Says About Women In Leadership takes an exegetical journey through the Scriptures, and Preston's consequent change of mind from a default complementarian position to the belief that women can lead and teach in the church without restriction. Some women responding have offered critique while remaining thankful for Preston's overall work in the book, including Beth Allison Barr, who published a response on her Substack which Preston has engaged with. We wanted to invite both of them onto TheoDisc to have a scholarly conversation where agreements and disagreements could be aired, and Preston could respond and clarify. That's the conversation we have on this episode of TheoDisc. Enjoy! SHOW NOTES Get Preston's books, including ‘From Genesis to Junia': HERE Theology in the Raw podcast: HERE Get Beth's books: HERE Watch our previous interview with Beth: HERE

In this episode, Sathiya sits down with Preston Sprinkle to explore the complex intersections of faith, gender, and sexuality within today's cultural landscape. They examine themes from Preston's book From Genesis to Junia, particularly the role of women in church leadership and how historical Christian ethics inform modern perspectives. The conversation highlights Preston's personal journey from a complementarian viewpoint to a more nuanced understanding of gender roles, as well as his thoughtful engagement with challenging biblical texts. They also discuss broader issues surrounding sexuality, dignity, and the importance of humility and compassion in theological dialogue. Ultimately, the episode encourages listeners to wrestle honestly with scripture, embrace personal growth, and pursue meaningful, grace-filled conversations within their communities.   SATHIYA'S RESOURCES: Free Recovery Book (The Last Relapse) Join the brotherhood (DeepClean Inner Circle) Live Training To Quit Porn For Good   PRESTON'S RESOURCES: Access Preston's Website From Genesis to Junia Book Follow Preston on Instagram   Timestamps: 00:00 Passion Rooted in Study 06:25 Bible Study: Humble Patience 08:14 Reconsidering Women's Authority in Scripture 12:41 Contextual Analysis of Disruptive Speech 14:30 Reframing Views on Women 20:02 Reevaluating One-Flesh Union Theology 23:06 Marriage, Theology, and Attraction 25:29 Understanding Same-Sex Attraction 31:20 Navigating Attraction and Desire 34:00 Understanding Lust and Insecurity 38:39 Church Conversations on Same-Sex Attraction 43:28 Relational Barriers in LGBT Ministry 46:11 Sex, Marriage, and Procreation 53:48 Transformation Requires Readiness and Cost 55:02 Theology in Raw Resources

There's still time to sign up for Exiles Minneapolis! Apr 30-May 2, 2026! Tony Scarcello has served in pastoral ministry since 2011, and is currently the pastor of discipleship at Red Hills Church just outside Portland, Oregon. He is the author of Regenerate: Following Jesus After Deconstruction and his most recent book Love All Our Neighbors: How Churches That Hold a Traditional Sexual Ethic Can Care for LGBTQ People, which is forwarded by Preston Sprinkle. It's a fantastic book, and Tony is a fantastic friend and person. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I sit down with Preston Sprinkle.. We cover a lot of ground. From his story and deep love for Scripture to some of the most complex and often controversial topics in the Church today, including sexuality, gender, and women in leadership.   But more than anything, this isn't about quick answers or winning arguments. It's about slowing down, asking better questions, and remembering that behind every topic is a real person with a real story. Preston brings both clarity and compassion as we talk through what the Bible says, why it matters, and how we can hold truth without losing our humanity. Whether you're wrestling with these topics yourself or walking alongside someone who is, my hope is that this conversation helps you lean in with curiosity, humility, and love. Resources: The Genesee Diary by Henry Nouwen https://a.co/d/0iVu65ZU From Genesis to Junia by Preston Sprinkle: https://a.co/d/0cMugNBs Erasing Hell by Francis Chan https://a.co/d/06PuaeuK Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode:  Are you on the hunt for a new house? Genuinely look no further. The Tyler Goff Group has a proven process that has transformed the lives of many clients. With the Tyler Goff Group by your side, you're not just buying a house – you're investing in a future home you'll love. To learn more and to contact Tyler or his team, visit tylergoffgroup.com Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit https://www.verneide.com/   Subscribe to Life Between Sundays on YouTube and watch the full episode: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: https://www.adamweber.com/thecrew

This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with JOURNAL author Anne Kennedy about her article, “The Teaching of Preston Sprinkle, Biblical Sexuality, and the LGBTQ Conversation.” This is also part of our Anne's ongoing column, Theological Trends.One way you can support our online articles and podcasts is by leaving us a tip. A tip is just a small amount, like $3, $5, or $10, which is the cost of a latte, lunch out, or coffee drink. To leave a tip, click here.Related articles and podcasts by this author:Episode 484: Deconstructing Faith and Marriage when a Spouse Comes Out: A Review of Beard: A Memoir of a Marriage by Kelly Foster Lundquist“Deconstructing Faith and Marriage when a Spouse Comes Out: A Review of Beard: A Memoir of a Marriage by Kelly Foster Lundquist“.Episode 475: Is Good Christian Parenting a Myth? A Review of ‘The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families' by Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis“Is Good Christian Parenting a Myth? A Review of ‘The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families' by Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis“.Episode 470: Does the Bible Teach Complementarity? Does the Bible Teach Complementarity? Episode 461: Historian Diarmaid MacCulloch's Lens on Sex and Marriage: Summary Critique of ‘Lower Than The Angels: A History Of Sex and Christianity'Historian Diarmaid MacCulloch's Lens on Sex and Marriage: Summary Critique of ‘Lower Than The Angels: A History Of Sex and Christianity'”Don't miss an episode; please subscribe to the Postmodern Realities podcast wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Please help spread the word about Postmodern Realities by giving us a rating and review when you subscribe to the podcast. The more ratings and reviews we have, the more new listeners can discover our content. Apple Podcasts   Spotify   Spreaker 

On this episode of Mutuality Matters, Dr. Mimi Haddad meets with Dr. Preston Sprinkle to discuss his new book, "From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says about Women in Leadership." A deeply committed Christian, husband, and father, Preston Sprinkle said his career has focused on serving the church as a scholar. As such, he approaches questions concerning faith and life through a deep dive exegetical analysis of the related biblical passages and related historical contexts. For many years, as a complementarian, Preston read the key passages (1 Timothy 2:11–15, 1 Corinthians 14:34–36, and Ephesians 5:21–33) at face value—through a plain reading of the text which, seemingly, supports male leadership in church and the home. Yet, over time, he noticed how the Greek syntax in these passages was complex. Attending more carefully, he began to focus on single words in the text like “silent.” This practice was quite fruitful in helping him realize how women were not silent in Scripture contra 1 Corinthians 14:34–36. This seeming inconsistency evoked questions around what NT women were talking about. Clearly, they had a voice. In fact, leading Bible women were far from silent. God called and gifted women to speak as prophets, judges, warriors, and diplomats. Women were Christ's disciples, and women served beside Paul as deacons, apostles, church planters, and his coworkers. Romans 16 abounds with the voices of women, slaves, and non-Jews—aligning with the welcome of women as Gospel agents (Gal. 3:28). Stunningly, women's voices were heard in Corinth, as they prayed and prophesied in the church (1 Cor. 11:5), raising questions about the meaning of 1 Corinthians 14:34–36. Other passages in 1 Corinthians, such as 1 Corinthians 7:4-5, 1 Corinthians 11:7, and 1 Corinthians 11, challenged Preston as a complementarian because:   Wives and husbands have authority over each other's bodies: 1 Cor. 7:4–5   Women prayed and prophesied: 1 Cor. 11:5.   Women “… have authority over her own head, because of the angels:” 1 Cor. 11:10.   Woman and man are interdependent: 1 Cor. 11:11–12.   Preston cited as a helpful resource, Gregory Dawe's works on head metaphors in Ephesians, The Body in Question: Metaphor and Meaning in the Interpretation of Ephesians 5:21–33 (Biblical Interpretation Series, 30)   Turning to 1 Timothy 2:11–12, Preston points to the extreme use of authority (authentein) Paul evokes in this passage that mirrors the unilateral, domineering authority of slave owners over their slaves as it demeaned slaves ontologically as lesser humans for a lesser purpose. It was a devaluation Jesus challenged in Matthew 20:25–28: “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   Summing it up, Preston suggests that three complex, poorly translated texts cannot overturn the “wide ocean of women leaders in Scripture.” Which is why he cautions against silencing women based on a plain reading of the Bible. Add to this the many women scholars he admired even before becoming an egalitarian. Women like Drs. Linda Belleville Sandra Ritcher, Lynn Cohick, Cynthia Westfall, and others are deeply regarded and highly respected throughout the Christian world. We add Preston to the list of egalitarian scholars and leaders, thanking him for his very insightful work throughout this podcast and in his newest book, From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says about Women in Leadership, available in CBE's bookstore. Enjoy!  00:56 Welcome and Guest Intro  02:59 Preston's Journey Shift  04:56 Deep Dive Research Process  06:31 Key Textual Turning Points  11:04 Women Scholars and Influences  13:24 Feedback and Early Critiques  19:51 Jesus Centered Vision for Women  21:46 Conference Invitation Chicago 2026  24:39 Hopes for the Book  25:33 When Egalitarianism Gets Real  26:45 Why Change Takes Time  30:37 Texts of Terror Overview  31:06 Women Silent in Church  33:29 Marriage and Household Codes  35:18 Authority in 1 Timothy  37:32 Hardest Passage 1 Corinthians 11  40:24 Mutuality in Paul  42:07 Conference Invite and Thanks  43:29 Closing Prayer and Support   

In this episode we talk to author, Preston Sprinkle, about his new book “From Genesis to Junia”. Across denominations, there are varying perspectives on what the Bible says about gender roles. Through years of study, Preston gives us insight into what his perspective has become!

In this episode we talk to author, Preston Sprinkle, about his new book “From Genesis to Junia”. Across denominations, there are varying perspectives on what the Bible says about gender roles. Through years of study, Preston gives us insight into what his perspective has become!

Do you remember the children's book, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"? That title also sums up what most Americans think about Trump's new war with Iran. Kaitlyn explains why the war is immoral based on Christian theology, Phil channels Ezra Klein to define America's new "heads on pikes" foreign policy, and Skye says the war fits Donald Trump's long pattern of laziness and impatience. Then, Preston Sprinkle is back to discuss his latest book, "From Genesis to Junia," about his journey to determine what the Bible really says about women in leadership. Also this week, Americans were the only people in a worldwide survey to say most of their fellow citizens are bad people. Plus, some happy puppy news.   Holy Post Plus: Preston Sprinkle Bonus Interview on Controversy: https://www.patreon.com/posts/152633138/   Ad-Free Version of this Episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/152728321/   0:00 - Show Starts   4:15 - Theme Song   4:37 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org   5:12 - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Get the AG1 $76 Welcome Pack for free when you order from https://www.drinkag1.com/HOLYPOST   6:42 - A Dog Called Ted   9:04 - Skye on Iran   28:30 - Americans Don't Trust Americans?   45:50  - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month!   46:55 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order   48:00 - Sponsor - For the Good of the Public Summit - CCPL's annual summit in Washington, DC to act on important public issues. Go to https://www.ccpubliclife.org/summit and use code HOLYPOST for 20% off!   49:12 - Interview   53:46 - Why's Preston Writing on Women in Ministry?   1:04:00 - Increased Interest in Egalitarian   1:14:20 - Tribalism and Taking Scripture Seriously   1:31:34 - End Credits   Links Mentioned in News Segment: Americans Think Americans Are Morally Bad: https://religionunplugged.com/news/2026/3/5/new-study-americans-think-fellow-citizens-are-morally-bad   Other Resources: Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop   The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.  

In this episode we're joined by Dr. Preston Sprinkle, who hosts the Theology in the Raw podcast and is the author of From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership (published by David Cook). In our conversation we talk about what caused Dr. Sprinkle to change his mind on this topic, and we discuss several key issues and passages related to the topic of women in ministry in the Bible. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a recent podcast, Preston Sprinkle interviewed Pastor Mike Erre about Charlie Kirk, TPUSA, and politics. His comments deserve a response, and this may reveal how many pastors actually feel and why they don't engage in what is labeled political.

On today's episode of Back Porch Theology, Lisa sits down with Dr. Preston Sprinkle to dive into the book of Judges through the lives of Deborah, Jael, and Huldah—three remarkable women whose stories reveal a God who is both utterly sovereign and intimately kind. They reflect on what Scripture truly reveals about women, leadership, spiritual motherhood, and everyday influence—and how a right view of God's smiling countenance transforms the way we live, love, and lead. Take a seat and stay awhile; we're so glad you're here.

Does the Bible prohibit women from any leadership positions in the church? The question has divided Christians for a long time, so Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes invite Bible scholar Dr. Preston Sprinkle to discuss.  References and resources: Catholic view of female priests: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/why-the-church-doesnt-ordain-women Evangelical views of women in leadership (Piper Keller): https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/should-we-call-female-leaders-pastors https://times12.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/GenderEldersTimKathyKeller.pdf NT Wright on women in leadership: https://ntwrightpage.com/2016/07/12/womens-service-in-the-church-the-biblical-basis/ Websites: The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmes Preston Sprinkle: prestonsprinkle.com

In a culture that often avoids or oversimplifies conversations about identity, "The Bisexual Deception" explores the narratives and spiritual pressures shaping our understanding of sexuality. Rather than reducing people to labels, this talk invites listeners to move past cultural confusion toward a place of clarity, nuance, and compassion. By examining how society influences our view of desire and identity, this conversation equips you to look beneath the surface, challenge prevailing assumptions, and respond to the world with both wisdom and empathy. Resources: Watch the talk, The Bisexual Deception by Mo Isom Aiken on THINQMedia.com. You may also like Sex, Faith and Gender by Laurie Krieg, Matthew Liu, Preston Sprinkle and Kat LaPrairie. Bring THINQ talks and conversations into your local community with THINQ Local. Take the THINQ Assessment to help you understand how you naturally think, learn, and grow in your faith.  Subscribe to THINQ News & Data to receive news stories every Thursday delivered directly to your inbox. Create a free THINQ Account and download the THINQ Media app on your smart TV to access more trusted content like this on topics from all channels of culture at thinqmedia.com. Apply the THINQ Framework as you think through cultural topics. Attend THINQ events where you can gather with like-minded leaders, ask better questions and have conversations that lead to wisdom: Sign up for THINQ Summit 2026 October 1-2 in Nashville, TN. Host a THINQ Let's Talk conversation series in your home:  Let's Talk Relationships Let's Talk Civility Let's Talk Mental Health Let's Talk Tech Detox Let's Talk Politics More from the THINQ Podcast Network: Rhythms for Life with Rebekah & Gabe Lyons The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips NextUp with Grant Skeldon NeuroFaith with Curt Thompson UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons Now on YouTube! Subscribe, Like, and Share:  THINQ Media UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons NextUp with Grant Skeldon Rhythms for Life with Rebekah and Gabe Lyons The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

In this episode we welcome @Theologyintheraw back into the Dojo to talk about his new book "From Genesis to Junia" and specifically to walk us through the passage in 1 Corinthians on head coverings. “From Genesis to Junia” is available at: https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Junia-Honest-Search-Leadership/dp/0830785809/ For more on passages involving women's roles in the church, see our discussion with Dr. Carmen Joy Imes at: https://youtu.be/rSur9vM-dC8 ***Disciple Dojo shirts and other gifts are available over in our online store! - https://www.zazzle.com/discipledojo ***Become a monthly Dojo Donor and help keep us going! - https://www.discipledojo.org/donate ***Dojo Donor Patches: If you are a monthly donor and would like an iron-on DiscipleDojo patch, supplies are limited so message JM directly via the contact page at https://www.discipledojo.org/contact ***If you are an unmarried Christian looking for community, check out our Facebook group “The Grownup's Table” over at www.facebook.com/groups/grownupstable ------ Go deeper at www.discipledojo.org

Thursday, March 5, 2026 On the show today, our host Kerby Anderson welcomes back scholar, speaker, and author, Dr. Preston Sprinkle. Dr. Sprinkle will join Kerby to talk about The Church, Theology, Women's Issues and about his new book, “From Genesis to Junia.” Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/pointofviewradio and on Twitter @PointofViewRTS with […]

Can women be pastors? That's the question we're talking about today,  not as a hot take, not as a debate, but as an honest, Scripture-rooted conversation.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Preston Sprinkle to talk about his new book From Genesis to Junia and what the Bible really says about women in leadership. We talk about where he started personally, what surprised him in his research, and why this conversation feels so personal for so many women.We also gently step into topics like submission, headship, and how to hold biblical authority alongside compassion and context.If you've ever wondered about God's heart for women and their role in the Church, I can't wait for you to hear this conversation.To connect with Preston, head over to https://www.prestonsprinkle.com or @preston.sprinkle on IG!Get Preston's new book here: https://amzn.to/4r8U4nL Preston's podcast, Theology in the Raw: https://theologyintheraw.com/podcasts Submit a question for “Ask Han” here: https://forms.gle/qWGxyy9M5Q5N2tMz9 SUPPORT BY WORDS: https://buymeacoffee.com/bywordsMy favorite Bible studies + devotionals - HANNAHHUGHES10  for 10% off: https://thedailygraceco.com?dt_id=300773 CONNECT:hello@thehannahhughes.comhttps://www.instagram.com/thehannahhughes 

Join Lisa Whittle in this compelling kickoff episode of her new podcast mini-series, "Women," as she interviews Dr. Preston Sprinkle about what the Bible really says regarding women in leadership. From the complexities of Pauline texts to the leadership roles of women in the early church, this conversation emphasizes the importance of thorough biblical investigation, cultural understanding, and humility. Preston shares how his own journey from a complementarian background to a more nuanced view was shaped by years of diligent study. This episode encourages believers to pursue biblical literacy and respectful dialogue, recognizing that this issue divides and heals the church at the same time. Whether you lean complementarian or egalitarian, or are still exploring, you will find wisdom and grace in this honest discussion.   Listen in to learn more: (0:20) Introduction to Preston Sprinkle and his scholarly background (1:50) Why Lisa felt compelled to bring this conversation to the series (5:27) Preston's personal journey from a complementarian upbringing to biblical investigation (8:32) The importance of careful hermeneutics in understanding Scripture on women in leadership (25:39) The complexity of Pauline passages like 1 Corinthians 11 and 14, and 1 Timothy 2 (36:33) How the early church and house churches inform women's roles today (40:15) The significance of biblical examples like Lydia and Priscilla (44:50) Labels and the importance of humility and respectful dialogue in controversial topics (51:40) Comparing biblical texts with structures of modern church leadership (57:02) How to model and practice responsible leadership and unity in the church   Mentioned in the episode: Global Christian Relief: http://link.globalchristianrelief.org/lisa   Preston's Book – From Genesis to Junia: What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership: https://a.co/d/0dt6Crm4 Embodied: Living as Whole People in A Fractured World: https://a.co/d/0bkdSWKv Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender: https://centerforfaith.com Theology in the Raw Podcast: https://theologyintheraw.com/podcasts Lisa Whittle's Bible Study – Body and Soul: https://www.lisawhittle.com/body Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.lisawhittle.comSubstack: https://letsbeclear.substack.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial

Preston Sprinkle joins Levi and Jennie for a candid, hilarious, and deeply thoughtful conversation around his newest book, From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership. Preston shares what sent him on a years-long, thousand-hour deep dive through Scripture, scholarship, and church history without rushing to “pick a side.” Along the way, the crew gets real about how these conversations actually land in local churches: the tension, the backlash, the nuance, and the very human emotions involved. From Jesus' surprising elevation of women, to the “problem passages” like 1 Timothy 2 and Romans 16, this episode is an invitation to slow down, stay humble, and let the Bible speak louder than the algorithms. Connect with us on social! Preston: @preston.sprinkle Levi: @levilusko Jennie: @jennielusko Fresh Life Church: @freshlife [Links] From Genesis to Junia book – https://bit.ly/4tG5dz2 Theology in the Raw Podcast – https://bit.ly/4s1GILd Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe Time Stamps 0:00:19 – Hats, Boise memories, and the “pollen snow” bike ride 0:05:44 – Immigration, algorithms, and thinking Christianly first 0:29:49 – Why Preston spent 1,000+ hours on women in leadership 0:45:13 – Fresh Life's journey, backlash, and Jennie's honest emotions 0:52:26 – Jesus, the early church, and why women are essential to mission 1:00:54 – The “hard verses”: 1 Timothy 2 vs. Romans 16 (Phoebe, Priscilla, Junia)

Preston Sprinkle joins Levi and Jennie for a candid, hilarious, and deeply thoughtful conversation around his newest book, From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership. Preston shares what sent him on a years-long, thousand-hour deep dive through Scripture, scholarship, and church history without rushing to “pick a side.” Along the way, the crew gets real about how these conversations actually land in local churches: the tension, the backlash, the nuance, and the very human emotions involved. From Jesus' surprising elevation of women, to the “problem passages” like 1 Timothy 2 and Romans 16, this episode is an invitation to slow down, stay humble, and let the Bible speak louder than the algorithms. Connect with us on social! Preston: @preston.sprinkle Levi: @levilusko Jennie: @jennielusko Fresh Life Church: @freshlife [Links] From Genesis to Junia book – https://bit.ly/4tG5dz2 Theology in the Raw Podcast – https://bit.ly/4s1GILd Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe Time Stamps 0:00:19 – Hats, Boise memories, and the “pollen snow” bike ride 0:05:44 – Immigration, algorithms, and thinking Christianly first 0:29:49 – Why Preston spent 1,000+ hours on women in leadership 0:45:13 – Fresh Life's journey, backlash, and Jennie's honest emotions 0:52:26 – Jesus, the early church, and why women are essential to mission 1:00:54 – The “hard verses”: 1 Timothy 2 vs. Romans 16 (Phoebe, Priscilla, Junia)

In this episode of Church Is Messy, Rick and Svea tackle one of the most notoriously difficult passages in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 11, which discusses head coverings and gender roles. The conversation centers on how people tend to retreat into fundamentalism—grasping at simplistic, dogmatic answers—when facing uncertainty or complex biblical texts. Rick explains that this impulse appears across the theological spectrum, from those who dismiss difficult passages entirely to those who impose rigid, literalistic interpretations without acknowledging the real complexities involved.The heart of their discussion explores why 1 Corinthians 11 is so challenging to interpret. Even top scholars disagree on fundamental questions: What does "head of" mean when Paul says God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman? Does it signify authority, source, unity, or preeminence? Rick presents Lucy Peppiatt's scholarly theory as one reasonable explanation while acknowledging it cannot be definitively proven. He emphasizes that any valid interpretation must account for all the facts without contradicting itself or the rest of scripture. Svea shares her personal experience of feeling stress and anxiety when hearing this passage read, even in the healthy environment of Autumn Ridge, reflecting the real impact these texts have on women in ministry.Ultimately, Rick and Svea encourage listeners to approach difficult scripture with confidence, curiosity, and courage rather than contempt or cynicism. They stress that it's spiritually mature to say "I don't know yet" and to trust in God's character while continuing to study and wrestle with hard passages. The main point Paul makes is clear despite all the complexity: men and women are interdependent, and all are fully dependent on God. Sometimes the most important lesson from a difficult passage isn't what it definitively says, but learning how to approach it with humility, rigorous study, and unwavering trust in God.Topics discussed in this episode:00:00 Intro02:55 - Connecting Fundamentalism to the Difficult Passage05:56 - Fundamentalism as a Response to Uncertainty07:00 - Svea's Personal Experience as a Woman08:45 - The Umbrella Imagery10:35 - What Does "Head Of" Mean?11:47 - John Chrysostom's Fourth Century Perspective13:30 - Long Unbound Hair & Cultural Context14:22 - Rick's Full Interpretation of "Headship"17:02 - Jesus' Functional Subordination19:27 - The Mystery of Angels in the Passage19:54 - Spiritual Maturity in Uncertainty21:29 - God Beyond Full Comprehension22:35 - Approaching Difficult Scripture as Worship23:18 - Lucy Peppiatt's Theory23:56 - Evaluating Competing Interpretations26:00 - Paul's Main Point: Interdependence26:25 - Dealing with Personal Bias28:46 - What to Remember a Year from Now30:54 - Preston Sprinkle's 20-Year Wrestling31:21 - Learning How to Approach Scripture33:02 - Impact Story: Red Letters Only Christian33:35 - Closing & Moving Forward

In this episode, I sit down with Preston Sprinkle to walk through one of the most debated questions in the church: women in leadership. We trace the story from Genesis to the prophets, through the ministry of Jesus, into Romans 16, 1 Corinthians, and 1 Timothy 2, asking what the whole sweep of Scripture actually says about authority, teaching, and the nature of leadership in the kingdom of God. Preston shares his multi-year journey of wrestling with the text, where he lands, and why he believes we need deeper study and better conversations around this issue for the sake of the church and our witness in the world.Dr. Preston Sprinkle is a biblical scholar, speaker, podcaster, a New York Times bestselling author, and is the co-founder and president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. He earned a Ph.D. in New Testament from Aberdeen University in Scotland (2007), and has taught theology at Cedarville University (OH), Nottingham University (U.K.), and Eternity Bible College (CA). Preston is an international speaker who's written over a dozen books including Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? and his most recent book: Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire. Preston currently serves as the president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, an organization that equips Christians to engage questions about faith, sexuality and gender with theological faithfulness and courageous love. And he's also the president of Theology in the Raw, which includes the popular “Theology in the Raw” podcast and the annual “Exiles in Babylon” conference.Preston's Book:From Genesis to JuniaConnect 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 belowGet Your Sidekick Support the show

What if the Bible's clearest teaching on women in leadership isn't what you've been told? In this thoughtful conversation, Dr. Preston Sprinkle — bestselling author and founder of the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender — shares findings from his three-year, 1,000-hour journey studying what Scripture actually says about women in church leadership.Preston unpacks what shocked him about his research on women and leadership and why the rare Greek word in 1 Timothy 2:12 changes everything.Discover how approaching Scripture with humility and curiosity—even when you disagree—can move us all closer to the truth and the heart of Jesus.Key Insights:00:40 - Why Being Around People You Disagree With Matters02:58 - Raised Complementarian: Why This Study Became Essential05:44 - The Sole Goal: What Does This Ancient Text Actually Say?06:46 - What Shocked Preston Most About Women in the Bible 10:29 - Women Model the Radical Courage Jesus Requires 12:01 - What IS Christian Authority? (This Changes Everything) 18:07 - Redefining Headship as Self-Giving Service 20:08 - 1 Timothy 2: The Strongest Complementarian Argument 27:32 - The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender Resources Mentioned:From Genesis to Junia: A Guide to Women in Leadership by Preston SprinkleChristian Sexuality: Raising Kids Exiles ConferenceTheology in the Raw PodcastPreston Sprinkle: ⁠https://prestonssprinkle.com/⁠ Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender:⁠ https://www.centerforfaith.com/⁠Follow Innovative Church Leaders:Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurchleaders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleaders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleadersDr. Eric Bryant: https://ericbryant.org/ Pastoral Cohort with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNnIron sharpens iron. Learn to pursue truth with people you disagree with. Get practical tools + encouragement at https://www.innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us.#ChurchLeadership #WomenInMinistry #BiblicalScholarship #CulturalDiscernment #SpiritLed #Egalitarian #Complementarian #TheologicalHumility #1Timothy2

Ben welcomes author and speaker Preston Sprinkle back to the show for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about one of the most debated issues in the church today: women in leadership.Preston, known for tackling controversial topics with humility and depth, shares the three-and-a-half-year theological journey behind his new book, From Genesis to Junia. Rather than starting with a fixed conclusion, he wrestled honestly with Scripture, historical context, and the strongest arguments on both sides of the complementarian vs. egalitarian debate.Pre-order Genesis to Junia HERE----------------------Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real-world insights and practical strategies, this book could be the breakthrough you've been searching for.Don't wait—get your copy today!Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.For more information, go to: jesusinthesecularworld.com------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke GreenwoodSend a text

What if a woman's role in church leadership is more nuanced than we've been taught? In this episode, Lisa is joined by Preston Sprinkle who shares his three-year journey studying Scripture's view on this divisive issue, revealing how God consistently used women in powerful ways throughout biblical history. From the faithful midwives of Exodus to Junia the apostle, discover how Scripture affirms women's vital role in God's kingdom while maintaining biblical truth.  Join this honest exploration that bridges traditional interpretations with fresh scholarly insights. ___________________________________________ FREE Show Notes Here: https://page.church.tech/a98ef5e7 ___________________________________________ Click here to order Preston's new book, "From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership": https://a.co/d/04H3ffYP ___________________________________________ Order premium meat now through Good Ranchers—use code “LISA" at checkout: https://go.goodranchers.com/lisa ___________________________________________ Our generous listeners who faithfully support this content monthly make the Lisa Bevere Podcast possible. Support this podcast here (tax-deductible): https://3szn.short.gy/FFF ___________________________________________ Social Handles and Websites: Instagram: @lisabevere Facebook: /LisaBevere.Page Twitter (X): @LisaBevere https://lisabevere.com/ Please Note: The views and opinions expressed by the guest on this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or positions of Messenger International.

What if a woman's role in church leadership is more nuanced than we've been taught? In this episode, Lisa is joined by Preston Sprinkle who shares his three-year journey studying Scripture's view on this divisive issue, revealing how God consistently used women in powerful ways throughout biblical history. From the faithful midwives of Exodus to Junia the apostle, discover how Scripture affirms women's vital role in God's kingdom while maintaining biblical truth.  Join this honest exploration that bridges traditional interpretations with fresh scholarly insights. ___________________________________________ FREE Show Notes Here: https://page.church.tech/a98ef5e7 ___________________________________________ Click here to order Preston's new book, "From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership": https://a.co/d/04H3ffYP ___________________________________________ Order premium meat now through Good Ranchers—use code “LISA" at checkout: https://go.goodranchers.com/lisa ___________________________________________ Our generous listeners who faithfully support this content monthly make the Lisa Bevere Podcast possible. Support this podcast here (tax-deductible): https://3szn.short.gy/FFF ___________________________________________ Social Handles and Websites: Instagram: @lisabevere Facebook: /LisaBevere.Page Twitter (X): @LisaBevere https://lisabevere.com/

Southside Tribe! Our brother Dr. Preston Sprinkle is back to discuss his new book, From Genesis to Junia, and the deeply debated question of women in church leadership. Preston shares about his three-and-a-half-year research journey—one that rivaled doctoral-level work—where he committed to studying not just voices that agreed with him, but the strongest arguments on the other side. Together we wrestle through Genesis, all the way to Paul's letters. This convo challenges listeners to distinguish between loving a narrative and loving the truth—and to approach controversial issues with curiosity rather than fear and assumptions. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to let Scripture speak on its own terms—even when it disrupts your theological framework—this episode invites you into that tension with grace, depth, and courage. Pull up! Episode on all audio platforms, video and bonus content exclusively on our Patreon community!! Become a Patreon member for Early Access, Full Episode Videos & Exclusive Bonus Content - https://patreon.com/Southsiderabbi Southside Rabbi is proudly sponsored by Redeem Healthshare, a division of Samaritan Ministries. Learn more here: https://hubs.ly/Q03MQXV_0 Southside Rabbi is proudly sponsored by Native Supply - grab SR merch there! https://www.native.supply https://native.supply/collections/southside-rabbi Follow us Online: Southsiderabbipodcast.com https://linktr.ee/southsiderabbi Email us at Southsiderabbipodcast@gmail.com Intro music produced by Randeaux- https://www.instagram.com/randeauxbandeaux/ Contact at randeauxbandeaux@gmail.com All rights reserved by their respective owners.

Does the Bible truly restrict women in leadership? In this thought-provoking Voxology Podcast episode, Mike Geary, Susie Lind, and Preston Sprinkle wrestle with this deeply significant theological question. Drawing from Preston's upcoming book, *From Genesis to Junia: What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership*, they explore the historical, cultural, and biblical contexts that shape complementarian and egalitarian debates. Are women called to lead, preach, and teach in the church? What role does cultural context play in interpreting scripture? With a blend of personal stories, rigorous scholarship, and honest dialogue, the hosts unpack passages like 1 Timothy 2 and Ephesians 5, illuminating how interpretations of authority, headship, and agency have shaped the Church's approach to women in ministry. Susie shares her lived experience as a pastor navigating these challenges, while Preston dives into the exegetical work that informed his book. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about how faith intersects with justice, theology, and cultural issues. Join the conversation as the hosts emphasize Jesus' inclusive teachings and challenge the commodification of women within religious structures. We encourage you to engage the discussion on Facebook and Instagram, or share your thoughts in the comments below. Let's continue to pursue understanding, humility, and critical thinking as we navigate these important topics together.  CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Our Break from the Lord's Prayer 05:03 - INTRO to Preston Sprinkle Interview 09:29 - This Weekend 10:39 - Poems 12:06 - Intro 13:56 - Origins of Our Faith 17:10 - Susie's Journey 18:34 - Preston's Journey 23:28 - Best Argument for Complementarianism 27:10 - Understanding 1 Timothy 2:12 28:00 - Analyzing 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 28:40 - Exegetical Laziness in Scripture 33:20 - Trusting English Translations 39:44 - Kephale: "Head" or "Source" 37:18 - Ephesians 5:23 Explained 38:18 - Insights on 1 Corinthians 11:3 39:18 - Meaning of "Head" in Context 41:04 - Greco-Roman Household Code 42:08 - Reexamining the Meaning of "Head" 48:54 - Process of Becoming a Pastor 52:00 - The Right Plumbing for Ministry 57:38 - Thank You 1:00:20 - Where to Find More of Preston's Work 1:01:06 - Upcoming Book Release 1:01:46 - Sign Off 1:05:05 - Support the Show As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! https://www.etsy.com/shop/VOXOLOGY?ref=shop_sugg_market Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Sissy Goff and David Thomas talk with Dr. Preston Sprinkle about how parents and the church can help kids navigate identity, gender, and sexuality with both clarity and compassion. Preston emphasizes being a non-anxious presence, starting age-appropriate, Jesus-centered conversations early, and building strong relationships that keep hard conversations open. Together, they explore how conviction and kindness can coexist, why discomfort builds resilience, and how parents can respond without panic or pressure. Resources mentioned: Theology in the Raw From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership by Preston Sprinkle . . . . . .  Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Pre-order our new book, Capable and grab tickets for Capable - The Book Tour here! See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . .  If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form. QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five day returns. BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply. COOK UNITY: Go to cookunity.com/RBG or enter code RBG before checkout to get 50% off your first order. BRODO: Go to Brodo.com/RBG for 20% off your first subscription order, plus an additional $10 off when you use code RBG at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, I talk about some of the highlights over the last year of the Theology in the Raw podcast. I give a little insight into how I pick guests, and some thoughts on platforming. We get into some of the stats, and I share some of my favorite positive (and negative) reviews from the Apple podcast app. It's been a great year! I'm glad you're with me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why is it important to engage with objections and disagreement? Can we actually do that while still loving people? Andrew is joined by Preston Sprinkle (Centre for Faith, Sexuality and Gender) and Katherine Brown (Evangelical Alliance) to chat about these questions.In the second half of the episode, they talk through some principles for having fruitful conversations from Preston's book Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? Resources mentioned and relatedPreston's podcast, Theology in the Raw Andrew's conversation with Charlie Bell on Premier Unbelievable? Katherine's story Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? by Preston Sprinkle (in particular see Ch1, ‘Foundation 1: How to Have a Fruitful Conversation') Engaging With LGBT Mental Health, Andrew Bunt The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt. And some things on our website engaging with Haidt's work: How We Determine What is Good (and How That Helps Us Communicate Better), Ed Shaw Understanding Youth Culture feat. Mike Snowdon (Youth Leaders' Crash Course #1) Think Again by Adam Grant The Art of Disagreeing by Gavin Ortlund  And if this series is raising more questions than it answers, ask us those questions here!

During the month of December Rick and Svea turn the microphone around and answer your questions on the podcast. Do you have a questions you'd like them to address? Email your questions to podcast@autumnridge.church.Topics discussed in this episode:00:00 Intro01:55 Send your questions for the podcast to podcast@autumnridge.church03:18 QUESTION 1: What advice or insight would you give on silencing or at least quieting the questions of "Is God real?" or "Did Jesus really die for us?"06:10 An unexpected answer: lean in to those doubts and questions. Jude 22: Be merciful to those who doubt.09:52 It's not my responsibility to convince you. It's my responsibility to share with you what convinced me.11:55 Hold on to profound moments and experiences with Jesus - they can be powerful motivational tools to keep on keeping on.13:04 Resources: Podcasts - Undeceptions with John Dixon; Theology in the Raw with Preston Sprinkle; books on topics like the resurrection by N.T. Wright.14:59 QUESTION 2: How do we reconcile once saved always saved and losing salvation? Individuals use scripture for both approaches.15:33 Those two positions can't be reconciles. They are mutually exclusive. Looking at the whole of Scripture, what Jesus said, and the Epistles point to security.17:50 If we could lose our salvation, we would.18:05 Two passages people look at about losing salvation: Galatians 5 and Hebrews 6.23:24 Passages that convinced Rick about security in Christ: John 10, Romans 8, Ephesians 1.27:44 QUESTIONS 3: Can you comment on spiritual circumcision? Is this a requirement and specifically who does the circumcising of the heart?29:17 Used as a symbol like a wedding ring or baptism. It's a profound symbol of something that has been done.36:48 It is a synergy. We can't circumcise our hearts on our own and God won't circumcise our heart on his own even though he could; he wants a relationship.38:05 QUESTION 4: How do we reconcile that we are all made in the image of God and yet we live outside of God's design?40:39 Good news - we are made in the image of God. Bad news - we've all fallen short. Good news - Jesus stepped into the world to be with us and make it possible to be united with him through his life, death, and resurrection.42:22 Being made in God's image we should expect that people from all walks of life will exhibit things that reflect the goodness of God.48:53 The assumption that Christians "should be" more of all these good things than non-Christians. That assumption implies we're Christians because of our behavior not our Savior. We should see a trajectory of personal growth, but we shouldn't assume that Christians are the "good guys" and the non-Christians aren't. As Jesus followers, we need to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do as he did.

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comCan Christians hold fast to biblical convictions about marriage and still radically love their LGBTQ+ neighbors? In this deeply honest and thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Preston Sprinkle, president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, joins Will Wright and Josh Burtram to explore one of the most polarizing conversations in the church today.Drawing from his books People to Be Loved and Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?, Dr. Sprinkle unpacks how to hold theological clarity with pastoral compassion—and why kindness isn't weakness but a biblical command. The discussion ranges from Jonathan Haidt's moral psychology to the difficulty of having civil discourse in today's polarized climate, and even touches on the civic versus theological tension around marriage and religious freedom.If you've ever wondered how faith, love, and truth can coexist in modern America, this episode will stretch your mind and soften your heart.

In this powerful 2-hour conversation, I talk to Christian counselor, Andrew Rodriguez (@psychobible). We expose the critical gap between doctrine and practice at Christian institutions — using Biola University as a real-world case study. Includes a discussion about Rosemead Psychology's stance on “conversion therapy.”

Hindered by shame caused by incorrect teaching Naghmeh Panahi now freeely serves the underground churches. Here how this came about and much more in PART TWO of our conversation on The Eden Podcast.  The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn't curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

In this episode we welcome @PrestonSprinkleRaw into the Dojo to talk shop! You can find the Theology in the Raw podcast at: https://theologyintheraw.com/ Pre-order Preston's upcoming book “From Genesis to Junia” at: https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Junia-Honest-Search-Leadership/dp/0830785809/ Preston's other books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Preston-Sprinkle/author/B00NAFEYGI Watch Preston's Church at the Crossroads talk at: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOm2aEpgoNr/ Watch “With God on Our Side” at: https://youtu.be/NahTjAsDThs?si=mtH7nd0UYRMk9xE1 Watch “Israelism” at: https://youtu.be/qQHUro6u6Kc?si=vPUfyqL0K7SCSUSx “The Israel Lobby” is available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374531501/ Open Letter from 152 American doctors in Gaza - https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66e083452b3cbf4bbd719aa2/t/68dd357553a0180b1e4e6c20/1759327605240/Final+letter+and+signatures.pdf ***Disciple Dojo shirts and other gifts are available over in our online store! - https://tinyurl.com/24ncuas2 ***Become a monthly Dojo Donor and help keep us going! - https://www.discipledojo.org/donate ***Dojo Donor Patches: If you are a monthly donor and would like an iron-on DiscipleDojo patch, supplies are limited so message JM directly via the contact page at https://www.discipledojo.org/contact ***If you are an unmarried Christian looking for community, check out our Facebook group “The Grownup's Table” over at www.facebook.com/groups/grownupstable ------ Go deeper at www.discipledojo.org

Learn why Naghmeh Panahi  says "I think we have misunderstood Genesis" and "Because we are honoring women in the house churches of Iran is one of the reasons God is blessing so much." This is Part One of our remarkable interview with underground house church leader Nagmeh Panahi. Why did Naghmeh feel ashamed when she saw how God raised up women to lead the underground house churches during the revival in the land of her birth? Bruce and Naghmeh talk about this and the life changing insights from Eden that open doors for all to minister using God's good gifts. Born in Tehran in 1977, Naghmeh Abedini Panahi immigrated to the United States at the age of nine and soon converted from Islam to Christianity. In late 2001, after graduating from college, she returned to Iran to work as a businesswoman and missionary. There, she witnessed—and experienced—the oppression and violence women are subjected to every day in the Middle East. It was there that she also met her future husband, Saeed Abedini, with whom she led one of the largest house-church movements in Iran. In 2005, due to persecution, she and Saeed moved to the United States, where their two children were born. When Saeed visited Iran in 2012 to work on opening an orphanage, he was arrested for his involvement in the underground church and sentenced to eight years in a notorious prison. Naghmeh unceasingly advocated for Saeed's release, appealing to President Barack Obama, Donald Trump, the U.S. Congress, the United Nations, and nearly every major news outlet over the three and a half years that Saeed was in prison. Yet underneath the surface of her leadership in the Iranian house church, her family life in America, and the spotlight of her advocacy, Naghmeh had been an abused wife, and Saeed's imprisonment had further intensified his controlling and abusive behavior. It took the crisis and aftermath of Saeed's arrest for Naghmeh to finally recognize what had been happening to her and begin to find healing. Naghmeh's personal experience with domestic violence and the misuse of religion to reinforce abuse has given her a passion to advocate for women who are vulnerable to abuse and oppression because of religion. She is the cofounder and executive director of Tahir Alnisa (“Setting Women Free”) Foundation, which serves women and children around the world impacted by domestic abuse and religious-motivated violence. Naghmeh's autobiography, I Didn't Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution, and Hidden Abuse (Whitaker House), was released in October 2023.Links: https://www.tahriralnisa.org/about/naghmeh-panahi/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SJr4PaZ8Mg The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn't curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

Even thinking about engaging in a conversation with kids about sexuality can feel scary, but Laurie and Matt Krieg have a heart to help parents approach the topic without fear.The Kriegs join Jackie and Preston to discuss moving beyond the shame-filled messages of purity culture – what was a “theology of no” – instead to a theology of goodness and flourishing. They talk about being your child's “anchoring bias” – the first voice a child hears on these topics – and why it's so important to respond like Jesus when your child is exposed to something online or confesses. Laurie and Matt also share about a new video series called “Raising Kids,” created with other thought leaders including Jon Tyson, John Mark Comer, Preston Sprinkle, and the Perrys, among many others. This 8-part video series is designed for parents of kids 12 and under, covering topics such as porn prevention, body safety, gender, and belonging. https://courses.christian-sexuality.com/courses/raising-kids  Check out Laurie and Matt's upcoming book, Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World: A Gospel-Centered Approach, releasing January 2026: https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Wise-Sexually-Broken-World/dp/1514012146Scripture references:Psalm 88:1-5 This Episode is Sponsored By:https://magicspoon.com/PERRY — Get $5 off your next order!https://policygenius.com/perry — Compare free life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save. Subscribe to the Perrys' newsletter: https://withtheperrys.myflodesk.com/zhfus4jx1sJoin Preston's discipleship community for men: https://www.patreon.com/PrestonPerry/membershipTo support the work of the Perrys, donate via PayPal: https://paypal.me/withtheperrysShop BOLD Apparel: boldapparel.shop Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Intro: Dog attacks chickens! Product referral code updates.8:23: JR tries Liquid Death Killer Cola. Sparkling water, and a brief kinda-ad break/explanation of referral codes in the show notes.15:43: Molly updates you on the new milk frother.18:15: A note about Skinwalkers (JR's reading the book), and words from a Christian Native American.26:32: Our son's big interest in remote viewing and conversations around the paranormal.30:20: The value and benefit to having these convos with your kids.34:24: Molly's challenges homeschooling our Freshman son.37:25: AI gives out fake answers, and randomness.39:07: Telegram conversation catchups: Safe Spaces and Slander vs. Criticism.43:04: Molly's comments on Preston Sprinkle and the “safe spaces” question, and what may be mentally healthy.50:35: Show CloseToo Busy to Flush Telegram GroupSend us a PostcardCanavoxPique Tea - Referral Link (it's super-delicious and healthy)Ledger Hardware Wallet - Referral Link (store your crypto securely!)Wealthfront Referral LinkMolly's Preferred Milk FrotherIncogni (data removal and internet anonymizer) Get full access to Too Busy to Flush at www.toobusytoflush.com/subscribe

Preston Sprinkle joins Daniel for a conversation tackling Evangelical support for pro-Israel. They discuss Preston's journey out of dispensationalism, and tackle the reasons why so many Evangelicals are Zionist and pro-Israel.Preston is an international speaker and a New York Times bestselling author, who's written over a dozen books including his most recent book: Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire. Preston currently serves as the president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, an organization that equips Christians to engage questions about faith, sexuality & gender with theological faithfulness and courageous love. And he's also the president of Theology in the Raw, which includes the popular “Theology in the Raw” podcast and the annual “Exiles in Babylon” conference.Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

I'm here today with Dr. Preston Sprinkle and Laurie Krieg, the President and Director of Parent Programs respectively for the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. Preston is a New York Times–bestselling author who's written over a dozen books, and got his PhD in New Testament from Aberdeen University. Laurie has a master's in evangelism and leadership from Wheaton Graduate School, and hosts the Hole in My Heart podcast with her husband Matt, with whom she also co-authored the book An Impossible Marriage, and the upcoming book Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World with Matt Krieg. Today we'll be talking about the new, upcoming resource from the Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender called Christian Sexuality: Raising Kids, which is designed to be a comprehensive discipleship resource for parents, and will be coming out next week, on September 1. To check out the resource, click here. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

In this episode of "After the Message," Pastor Ernest opens up about the biggest surprises and challenges from his recent Sunday message on the theology of sexuality. Learn what didn't make it into the sermon, from personal anecdotes to powerful research on Christian marriage and the sexual ethic it promotes. We also explore: How God's redemption brings healing for survivors of sexual abuse, using scripture, prayer, counseling, and community. What the Bible has to say about homosexuality. The legacy and critiques of “purity culture” across generations and churches. Why clear communication is crucial in marriage—including the importance of scheduling date nights and serving one another authentically. How we as the church can love people no matter what. Recommended Resource: “Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?” by Preston Sprinkle. Do you have questions that you would like us to talk about on the podcast during this series? Click here to submit your questions anonymously, and we will do our best to respond to them.

Dr. Sandra Richter (PhD Harvard) is the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College and, in Sandy's own words: "I'm Preston Sprinkle's best friend." Oh, glory! Sandy is also the author of several books including the incredible The Epic of Eden and an ongoing series of Bible Studies (written and video) called Epic of Eden Bible Study. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a recording of the session titled "Transgender People and the Church" at the recent Exiles in Babylon conference in Minneapolis. In this session, I give a short theological overview of Transgender identities and Mark Yarhouse gives a psychological perspective. And then, we had three people share their testimonies: Remi Rathjen (a Christian who experiences Gender Dysphoria and who hasn't transitioned), Julia Mallott (a transitioned transwoman who does not identify as a Christian), and Chloe Cole (a Christian who transitioned at an early age and then detransitoned). To listen to these testimonies and our 45 minute dialogue, go to patreon.com/theologyintheraw and sign up for a free (or paid) account.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices