Episoder

  • Join us as we discuss technology and how the internet shapes our human desires with Samuel James, the author of “Digital Liturgies.” James encourages us to use Biblical wisdom as we navigate technology in our online age. He writes, “Rather than being a neutral tool, the internet is an epistemological environment– a spiritual and intellectual habitat–that creates in its members particular ways of thinking, feeling, and believing.” Technology is powerful. Therefore, we must evaluate how to use it wisely. We also cover topics like how the internet has changed the publishing industry and the importance of the physical gathering, congregational singing, and friendship in our disembodied age.

    Resources Referenced-

    Digital Liturgies by Samuel James

    The Shallows by Nicholas Carr

    The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

    Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman

    Completely Unsolicited, Totally Anecdotal, But Perhaps Marginally Helpful Thoughts on Being a Christian Writer by Samuel James

    Digital Liturgies Substack

  • Most would agree that Christ had emotions, but they have not given a great deal of thought to the significance of Christ’s emotional life. By neglecting to reflect on the Lord’s emotional life, we fail to think deeply about what it means that the Son of God became a true human being for our sakes. Our understanding of the significance of the incarnation itself is at stake.

    Join us as we discuss B.B. Warfield’s excellent book, The Emotional Life of Our Lord. We talk about some common errors we make when thinking about Christ’s emotions, what we can learn from the emotional life of Christ, and what this means for our own emotions.

    Resources mentioned:

    The Emotional Life of Our Lord by B.B. Warfield

    Warfield on the Christian Life by Fred Zaspel

    Good and Angry by David Powlison

    Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

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  • In this episode we interview Alex DiPrima on his latest book: “Spurgeon: A Life” and discuss Charles Haddon Spurgeon who was the most-well known minister of the gospel in the nineteenth century. We also discuss whether Spurgeon should be considered a “celebrity pastor” and why he was appealing to so many. We cover a few of the many things we can learn from Spurgeon and ways we should seek to emulate him. Alex shares with us how Spurgeon has personally affected him as a Christian and as a pastor. We also discuss the criticism that Spurgeon faced and the Downgrade Controversy, which was one of the most significant events in Spurgeon’s life.

    Resources mentioned:

    Spurgeon: A Life
    Spurgeon: A Biography by Arnold Dallimore
    Spurgeon the Pastor by Geoff Chang
    Expository Thoughts on the Gospels by J.C. Ryle
    Holiness by J.C. Ryle
    Simplicity in Preaching by J.C. Ryle
    Spurgeon’s sermons (Alex especially recommends sermons in the early 1880s)
    The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon
    All of Grace by Charles Spurgeon
    The Soulwinner by Charles Spurgeon
    Servants of Christ, Lovers of Men by Alex DiPrima
    Spurgeon’s Sorrows by Zack Eswine
    Susie by Ray Rhodes
    Episode 2: The Life of Susannah Spurgeon and "Susie" with Guest Author Ray Rhodes Jr.
    C.H. Spurgeon Autobiography
    The Forgotten Spurgeon by Ian Murray
    Episode 27: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael

  • Do women need theology? Join us as we interview Natalie Brand and discuss Priscilla in Acts 18 and what we can learn from her example. Natalie makes the argument that the church needs women to be theologically astute. Listen as she answers the question, “what can you do if you feel intimidated and overwhelmed by studying theology?” We also discuss how theology should move us to worship and that the gold in theology is God himself.

    Recommended Resources:

    "Priscilla, Where are You?" by Natalie Brand

    "Acedia" discussed in Episode 30

    "The Scuttlebutt Letters" by Natalie Brand

    Episode 4: Spiritual Warfare and "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis

  • In this episode we discuss Abigail Favale’s book The Genesis of Gender. We give a quick survey of feminism and defend why we believe Christians cannot embrace Feminism. We talk about postmodernism, embodiment, consumerist sex, the incarnation and divine revelation. In addition, we touch on transgenderism and the influence of social media. Finally we end with the goodness of the givenness of our gender and the hope of the gospel.

    Recommended Resources

    The Genesis of Gender by Abigail Favale

    All Things Bright and Beautiful Episode 7: Frankenstein: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting

    All Things Bright and Beautiful Episode 20: Expressive Individualism and “Strange New World” by Carl Truman

    Notes

    Jenna mentions Peter Singer’s approval of Zoophilia. While he did not write the article, on November 8, 2023, he tweeted in praise of an article entitled, Zoophilia is Morally Permissible. Peter Singer is a well known and influential philosopher, infamous for his applied ethics in favor of infanticide and eugenics. He is a professor of Bioethics at Princeton University.

  • In this episode we interview Mike McKinley. As we discuss his book, Friendship with God, we touch on the Puritans– and the common myths that surround them, the heart of the gospel, and the good news that we can have friendship with God. We talk about the Lord’s Supper, the gift of being adopted by God, how to better understand the Holy Spirit, and the importance of the local church in the life of a Christian.

    *Our apologies for the sound quality. Unfortunately we experienced a number of technical issues in this interview. Thankfully Mike McKinley was patient, and despite these hiccups he nonetheless communicated encouraging, wonderful thoughts throughout the interview.

    Resources Mentioned

    Friendship with God: A Path to Deeper Fellowship with the Father, Son, and Spirit by Mike McKinley

    Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortland

    Communion with God by John Owen

    Knowing God by J.I. Packer

  • In our culture authority is looked upon with skepticism at best and loathing at worst. Is the answer to all the misuse of authority we see a signal that we should completely do away with it? Or is authority in some way part of the very fabric of reality? How should Christians think about authority? In this episode we interview Jonathan Leeman on his book Authority: How Godly Rule Protects the Vulnerable, Strengthens Communities, and Promotes Human Flourishing. We discuss abuse of authority, the cultural temperature on authority, and the necessity of authority in our lives. Jonathan Leeman makes his case for God’s good design for authority, elaborates on the tie between authority and submission, and explains how submitting to good authority leads to our flourishing.

    Resources Mentioned

    Authority: How Godly Rule Protects the Vulnerable, Strengthens Communities, and Promotes Human Flourishing by Jonathan Leeman

    9Marks

    Pastors Talk Podcast

  • Why is reading important? Join us as we discuss how to create a culture of reading individually, in our families, and in our churches. Reading good books helps us grow in wisdom and knowledge and gives us an opportunity to rest and experience joy. We discuss the "why" behind reading as well as practical tips to become a better reader.

    Episode 1- "Lit" by Tony Reinke

    Goodreads

    Episode 14- Discipline and "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" and "Atomic Habits"

    Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

    Einstein's Theory of Relativity

    The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

    The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

    David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

    Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

    Fierce Convictions by Karen Swallow Prior

    Read Aloud Revival

    Ambleside Online

    Close Reads

    The Literary Life

    Remaking the World by Andrew Wilson

    Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

    Parenting by Paul Tripp

    Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

    Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot

    Salt by Mark Kurlansky

    The Two Part Invention by Madeline L'Engle

    The Odyssey by Homer

    Paradise Lost by John Milton

    Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

    Silas Marner by George Eliot

    The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

    The River of Doubt by Candace Millard

    The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes

    The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs

  • Why should we care about philosophy? Is philosophy only for academics? In this episode we interview Dr. Douglas Groothius, professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary. He makes a compelling case that philosophy is for everyone in his book Philosophy in Seven Sentences by introducing us to seven important sentences by key philosophers in history. In our time with Dr. Groothius we discuss apologetics, the law of non-contradiction, self-hood, and what it means to be a distinctly Christian philosopher.

    Resources mentioned

    Philosophy in Seven Sentences by Douglas Groothius

    Beyond the Wager:The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal by Douglas Groothius

    The Dust of Death by Os Guinness

    Fools Talk by Os Guinness

    Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothius

    Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

    Long Journey Home by Os GuinnessMockery in Apologetics by Douglas Groothius

    Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman

    Tactics by Greg Koukl

    Strange New World by Carl Trueman

    The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

    Life’s Ultimate Questions by Ronald Nash

    https://www.douglasgroothuis.com/

  • We need to understand history to navigate our current cultural moment. According to Andrew Wilson, we especially need to understand the year 1776: all that led up to it and how it created the narrative of the West. In this episode we discuss the Enlightenment, romanticism, industrialization, and how the ideas they birthed shape the church and the world around us.

    Notes:

    Lydia mentions the composition of silence, it is titled 4'33'' by John Cage.

    Jenna mentions C.S. Lewis' introduction to On The Incarnation: “We may be sure that the characteristic blindness of the twentieth century - the blindness about which posterity will ask, "But how could they have thought that?" - lies where we have never suspected it... None of us can fully escape this blindness, but we shall certainly increase it, and weaken our guard against it, if we read only modern books. Where they are true they will give us truths which we half knew already. Where they are false they will aggravate the error with which we are already dangerously ill. The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books.”

    Resources mentioned:

    Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew Wilson

    The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self:Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman

    Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman

    All Things Bright and Beautiful Episode 20: Expressive Individualism and "Strange New World" by Carl Trueman

    All Things Bright and Beautiful Episode 1: On Reading and "Lit" by Tony Reinke

    The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress and Equality by Glenn Scrivener

    All Things Bright and Beautiful Episode 7: "Frankenstein: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting" by Mary Shelley and Karen Swallow Prior

    Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

    You are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World by Alan O Noble

    The Letters of John Newton

    The Hunger Game Series by Suzanne Collins

    1984 by George Orwell

    Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

    The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien

    The Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot

  • We’re back! In this episode we talk about where we’ve been this last year: the good and the difficult. We share our thoughts on suffering, the sovereignty of God, and how God’s goodness, provision, and nearness were magnified in the events that transpired in our lives most recently. We discuss the most helpful books we’ve read on the topic (and some of our favorite more light-hearted reads).

    Resources Mentioned

    The Pillar Network

    David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

    Calvinism and Cancer by Jenna DiPrima

    Calvinism is Getting Me Through Cancer by Jenna DiPrima

    Letters of John Newton

    Psalms by the Day by Alec Motyer

    Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot

    Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller

    The Treasury of David by C.H. Spurgeon

    Songs of Suffering by Joni Eareckson Tada

    A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

    Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

    Friendship with God by Mike McKinley

    Communion with God by John Owen

    Holiness by J.C. Ryle

    Remaking the World by Andrew Wilson

    The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Truemen

    The C.S. Lewis Biography Trilogy by Harry Lee Poe

  • What can we learn from an Irish woman who lived in the 19th century? In this episode we discuss Elisabeth Elliot’s biography of Amy Carmichael, A Chance to Die. We talk about the importance of reading Christian biographies, and various modern topics that Amy Carmichael can help us navigate. We cover self-care and sacrifice, the tension of word and action, and holiness and compassion.

    Resources Mentioned

    A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot

    O, Church Arise by Keith and Kristyn Getty

    Amy Carmichael by Iain Murray

    The Dohnavur Fellowship

    If by Amy Carmichael

    Mimosa by Amy Carmichael

    The Elisabeth Elliot Podcast

    C.S. Lewis: A Life by Alister McGrath

    A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Laconte

    The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

    Fierce Convictions by Karen Swallow Prior

    John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by Jonathan Aitkan

    Susie by Ray Rhodes

    Theologians on the Christian Life by Crossway

    Christians Heroes Then and Now

    Do Great Things for God Series by The Good Book Company

  • How do we grapple with a world that seems, as T.S. Eliot puts it “advances progressively backward.” In his book You Are Not Your Own, Dr. Alan Noble argues that the increasing cultural emphasis on efficiency, and increasing isolation have created an inhuman world. In this episode we talk with Dr. Noble about how our unity with Christ gives us meaning, purpose, and hope as we live in this world. We discuss despair, self-medication and escapism, and the antidotes of gratitude toward God, examining ourselves, death to self, and resting in belonging to Christ, our only hope in life and death.

    Resources Mentioned

    Disruptive Witness by Alan Noble

    You Are Not Your Own by Alan Noble

    Strangely Bright by Joe Rigney

    Episode 18: Can You Love God and Enjoy This World?

    Ethics by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

    The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

    Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis

  • Why is the local church important? In this episode we’re joined by Erin Wheeler to discuss the centrality of the church in the life of the Christian. We discuss how culture has impacted our ecclesiology, the gift the church can be in how we serve one another, and the necessity of our physical presence in the local church. We discuss the purpose of the church, criticisms of the church and how we should think about them, how we can prioritize the local church in various stages of our lives, and the ins and outs of discipleship.

    Resources mentioned

    The Church: Delighting in the Doctrine of the Church by Erin Wheeler

    The Good Portion Series

    Episode 16: “How Can Women Thrive in the Local Church” with Guest Keri Folmer

    Christ: The Doctrine of Christ, for Every Woman by Jenny Manley

    Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus by Mark Dever

    Fix Your Eyes by Amy Gannett

    Jesus Through the Eyes of Women by Rebecca McLaughlin

    Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves

    Priscilla Talk

  • Why do we take the time to introduce ourselves as “confessionally reformed?" In this episode we discuss Carl Trueman’s book The Creedal Imperative. We talk about why we think confessionalism is important and warn against the cultural influence that causes us to approach tradition with suspicion. We discuss authority, tradition, the power of words, and how embracing creeds and confessions can lead to worship and unity.

    Resources Mentioned

    The Creedal Imperative by Carl Trueman

    Rediscovering Conservatism by Yoram Hazony

    Episode 20: Expressive Individualism and Strange New World by Carl Trueman

    Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

    The Apostles Creed for All God’s Children By Ben Myers

    The New City Catechism

    The Westminster Shorter Catechism

    The Good News We Almost Forgot by Kevin DeYoung

    Affirming the Apostles Creed by J.I. Packer

  • Art and humor can be difficult to define, but we all know it when we see it. But how should Christians think about the arts and humor? Are there boundaries and rules to what Christians produce and consume? In this episode we’re joined by BBC comedy writer, author, and podcaster, James Cary. We discuss the importance of enjoying the arts, how comedy is about truth-telling yet still seems to be at odds with religion. Cary discusses his view that Art is important, life is poetry, the Bible is funny (and that Jesus is too). He answers questions on the risks of reading the Bible without a sense of humor, and the essentially human component of humor.

    Resources mentioned

    The Sacred Art of Joking by James Cary

    Cooper and Cary Have Words

    Sitcom Geeks

    Popcorn Parenting

    How Lightyear is a bit of a Buzzkill by James Cary

    Life is Beautiful (movie)

    The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis

    That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis

    1984 by George Orwell

    Animal Farm by George Orwell

    Perelandra by C.S. Lewis

    The Gospel According to a Sitcom Writer by James Cary

    Water into Wine by James Cary

    The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

    Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme

    Cynical Discourses by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay

    The Real Great Escape by Guy Walters

    Stranger Things Season 4

    Substack James Cary

  • At the heart of the transgender debate is the issue of human dignity. Therefore, it is crucial that Christians should care about current public policy and firmly defend biblical principles that promote truth telling and human flourishing. In this episode we are joined by Dr. Andrew Walker. Together we discuss the overturn of Roe, how to think about current social and political issues from a biblical perspective, and what the average Christian should think of as their duty in the face of ethical issues such as abortion and transgenderism. Dr. Walker gives practical, compassionate advice on how we should think about gender, the call we have all been given for truth-telling, and what the landscape of religious liberty looks like now (and may look like in the future) as we engage with these pressing issues.

    Resources

    Liberty For All: Defending Everyone’s Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age by Andrew Walker

    God and the Transgender Debate by Andrew Walker

    The Case for Life by Scott Klusendorf

    The Transgender Fantasy: What I Wish Every Pastor Knew by Andrew Walker

    Alliance Defending Freedom

    World Opinions

  • How should we address the issue of abortion and what should we do in the wake of the recent overturn of Roe? In this special episode we interview Dr. Brent Boles, discussing his book Supremely Wrong: The Injustice of Abortion. He gives a thorough overview of abortion and the issues surrounding it, historically, medically, and legally. He addresses common myths about abortion, what Roe accomplished, and what its overturn means for those of us who value life.

    Resources mentioned

    Supremely Wrong: The Injustice of Abortion by Brent Boles M.D.

    Should I? Things to Consider Before an Abortion by Brent Boles M.D. and Julia Boles MSN

    Surrendering the Secret by Pat Layton

    Pregnancy Care Centers

    American Association of Pro-Life Obstericians and Gynecologists

    The Case for Life by Scott Klusendorf

    Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Questions by Randy Alcorn

    Unplanned by Abby Johnson

    UnAborted Podcast

    Heartbeat International

    And Then There Were None

    LoveLine

    LiveAction

  • What is the “authentic self” and does it have the authority our culture leads us to believe it has? In this episode we discuss Carl Trueman’s latest book, Strange New World; a book we both believe every Christian should read. We talk about expressive individualism, education, the sexual revolution, transgender ideology, personhood, ethics, religious freedom, and how Christians ought to respond.

    Resources mentioned

    Strange New World by Carl Trueman

    The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

    The London Lyceum: Karl Marx and Marxism with Carl Trueman

    All Things Bright and Beautiful Episode 7: Frankenstein: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting

    When Harry Became Sally by Ryan T. Anderson

    The Coddling of the American Mind By Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

    PresbyGirls Podcast: Rosaria Butterfield: Sin, Side B, and Hospitality

    The Compelling Community by Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop

  • Are emotions good, bad, or neutral? How should Christians think about them? In this episode we discuss Untangling Emotions, by J Alasdair Groves and Winston T Smith. We talk about a theology of feelings, how we should engage our negative emotions—like anger and sorrow, and what God’s role is in our emotional life.

    Resources mentioned

    Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

    The Emotional Life of our Lord by BB Warfield

    Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd Jones

    Emotions Like Christ by Jenna DiPrima