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Christian Formation

327 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 27 ratings

The goal of this podcast is to form disciples to live all of life with the presence of God, and we do this through conversations about theology, culture, and stories. 


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Episodes

105 - Why the Church Sings

August 25, 2021 08:00 - 38 minutes - 26.9 MB

We see throughout the Bible that worship—musical worship—is an integral part of worshiping God. It almost seems if we were created to sing. In this podcast, we look at why the church today sings and how songs are chosen for a Sunday gathering.

104 - Call to Worship, Confession, and Profession of Faith

August 18, 2021 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MB

Is the Call to Worship us calling ourselves to worship or responding to God? Why do we confess sin aloud in our Sunday gatherings? Why is it important to profess our faith during a Sunday when their are non believers in the room? Join us as we continue our series on Sunday Liturgy, with this second episode focusing on the call to worship, confession, and profession of faith elements in our Sunday gatherings.

103 - Why Sundays Matter for the Church

August 11, 2021 12:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MB

Many of us attend a Sunday church gathering without knowing the significant impact it has on our lives. In this episode, Andrew, Ravyn, and Steve discuss why Sundays matter in the life of a Christian.

102 - Season 5 Intro, we're back!

August 04, 2021 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MB

We are back for our 5th season! In this episode, Andrew and Ravyn give a personal recap of what happened this summer and then dive into an overview of the podcast's upcoming series: Sunday Liturgy.

101 - Q & A Over the Doctrines of Grace

June 16, 2021 08:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB

For our final episode in our Doctrines of Grace (also known as Calvinism) series, we answer questions that YOU submitted. Join us as we discuss whether we are "forced" to love God and why it matters that we understand the theology behind our salvation. 

100 - Debated Passages in the Doctrines of Grace Conversation

June 09, 2021 08:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MB

The Doctrines of Grace series is our longest series on the Christian Formation Podcast. This second-to-last episode in the series highlights two key passages that are highly debated in the doctrines of grace conversation. Join us as we dive into these passages and explain how they are used against the Doctrines of Grace and how we would respond in favor of the Doctrines of Grace.

099 - The Necessity of the Psalms (with Dr. Mark Futato)

June 02, 2021 08:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MB

The Psalms are filled with rich imagery and a lot of emotion, however, not many of us know the true depth of how valuable the Psalms really are in shaping our view of God and our prayer lives. In this episode, we discuss the background of the Psalms, why it is important for Christians to read the Psalms, and how reading the Psalms can shape our prayer life and view of God.  We are joined by Dr. Mark Futato, who serves as a professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlan...

098 - Perseverance of the Saints

May 26, 2021 08:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MB

In this podcast, we discuss how those who are chosen by Christ are covered by His grace to continue to the end, otherwise known as perseverance of the saints. Join us as we discuss the "P" (perseverance of the saints) in the acronym TULIP, which stands for the 5 points in the Doctrines of Grace, or Calvinism.

097 - Irresistible Grace

May 19, 2021 08:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MB

In this podcast, we discuss how those who are chosen by Christ will choose Him no matter what, otherwise known as irresistible grace. Join us as we discuss the "I" (irresistible grace) in the acronym TULIP, which stands for the 5 points in the Doctrines of Grace, or Calvinism.

096 - Limited Atonement

May 12, 2021 08:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MB

"Christ died for all... or did he die for some?" In this podcast, we discuss how Christ’s atonement was intended by God to secure the redemption of the elect alone, otherwise known as limited atonement. Join us as we discuss the "L" (limited atonement) in the acronym TULIP, which stands for the 5 points in the Doctrines of Grace, or Calvinism.

095 - Unconditional Election

May 05, 2021 08:00 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MB

The question isn't whether God has an elect, it how the elect is chosen. Join us as we discuss the "U" (unconditional election) in the acronym TULIP, which stands for the 5 points in the Doctrines of Grace, or Calvinism.

094 - Total Depravity

April 28, 2021 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MB

Don't let the title "Total Depravity" scare you away. In this episode, Andrew and Ravyn discuss the "T" in the acronym TULIP, which stands for the 5 points in the Doctrines of Grace, or Calvinism. Join us as we discuss how we are dead in our sins and utterly unable to choose God without Him first choosing us.

093 - Doctrines of Grace / Calvinism

April 21, 2021 08:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MB

In this episode, we discuss the Doctrines of Grace, otherwise known as Calvinism or Reformed Theology. Join us as we talk about what the Doctrines of Grace are and how they highlight God's glory in the process of salvation.

092 - Battling Anxiety

April 14, 2021 15:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MB

In this episode, we discuss the topic of anxiety, how God meets us in our darkest moments, and coping strategies for those who are struggling with anxiety. We are joined by Wendell Nelson, the spiritual formation director at Christ Community Church.

092 - Battling Anxiety (with Wendell Nelson)

April 14, 2021 15:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MB

In this episode, we discuss the topic of anxiety, how God meets us in our darkest moments, and coping strategies for those who are struggling with anxiety. We are joined by Wendell Nelson, the spiritual formation director at Christ Community Church.

091 - The Wisdom Pyramid and the Importance of Reading

April 07, 2021 08:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MB

What we “feed on” in our lives is what comes out in other areas of our lives. What is it that you depend on each day? What is at the bottom of your wisdom pyramid? Is it social media? Pills? Alcohol? Or is it the word of God? Join us as we discuss books we are reading, with a small focus on how to feed our souls in a post-truth world AND how to love others during it. In this episode, we highlight two different books we are currently reading for the spring of 2021. If you are interested in ...

090 - Believer's Baptism (with Bobby Jamieson)

March 31, 2021 08:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MB

Last week on the podcast, we discussed infant baptism. On this week's episode, we examine the view that we hold to at Providence Church, called credobaptism, also known as believer's baptism. We are joined by Bobby Jamieson, who is a pastor in Washington, D.C. and has written a number of books and articles specifically related to baptism, to help us think through this topic. Check out this conversation to find out more about our stance on baptism. Also, if you're interested in baptism and i...

089 - Infant Baptism (with Kyle McClellan)

March 24, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MB

We are doing a two part series where we feature two distinct views of baptism: infant baptism (paedobaptism) and believer's baptism (credobaptism). On this episode, we are joined by Kyle McClellan from Grace Church in Fremont, Nebraska, to talk about infant baptism and some of the thoughts and beliefs behind infant baptism.

089 - Infant Baptism

March 24, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MB

We are doing a two part series where we feature two distinct views of baptism: infant baptism (paedobaptism) and believer's baptism (credobaptism). On this episode, we are joined by Kyle McClellan from Grace Church in Fremont, Nebraska, to talk about infant baptism and some of the thoughts and beliefs behind infant baptism.

088 - Cultural Christianity

March 17, 2021 08:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MB

In our world today, many struggle with cultural Christianity, or idea that the Christian faith can be supported, founded on, and backed by cultural values and beliefs. In this episode, we argue that culture does not get to redefine Christianity and describe the danger in letting cultural Christianity rule our lives. For a link to The Guardian article, click here.

087 - Christianity and Community Service

March 10, 2021 09:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MB

In this episode, we explore community service as it relates to our Christian faith.

086 - Joy in Suffering

March 03, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MB

One of our pastors, Andrew, had a seizure this past year, which contributed to hardship for both himself and his family. In spite of all that happened and continues to happen, the Lord has given them joy amidst the suffering. In this episode, Andrew and Bailey talk about how to have and what it looks like to have joy in the midst of suffering.

085 - Faith in Suffering

February 24, 2021 09:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MB

One of our pastors, Andrew, and his wife, Bailey, have been through a challenging, if not the most challenging, year of their entire lives. On the Christian Formation Podcast, Andrew and Bailey talk about faith in the midst of suffering as they share their experiences from this past year.

084 - Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

February 17, 2021 09:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MB

In our modern world today, it can be easy for us to remember what Jesus Christ has done for us, but how often do we focus on who He is and his character? In this podcast, we dive into the book, Gentle & Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund to discuss Jesus’ heart for His people. 

083 - Why We Engage in Musical Worship

February 10, 2021 14:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MB

We sing songs on every Sunday, but why? What does musical worship do for our hearts and souls? In this podcast, we explore musical worship and why it is an important witness for the congregation to sing.

082 - How to Share the Gospel

February 03, 2021 09:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MB

The saving grace of Jesus Christ is the best news we have ever received, and yet, we can feel shy or awkward when sharing this life-saving truth. In this podcast, we recap our evangelism training and highlight best practices in how to share the gospel with others no matter the conversation. 

081 - Marriage: Your Unique Story (with Dusty White)

January 27, 2021 09:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MB

Our guest speaker for our 2021 marriage conference, Dusty White, explains why it is important for couples to know what the Bible says about marriage and how couples' personal, unique stores play a role in their marriages. This is a perfect snapshot of some good TRUTHS that we will walk away with after our upcoming marriage conference.  If you want to sign up for the 2021 February marriage conference, head to our website at providenceomaha.org.

081 - Marriage: Your Unique Story

January 27, 2021 09:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MB

Our guest speaker for our 2021 marriage conference, Dusty White, explains why it is important for couples to know what the Bible says about marriage and how couples' personal, unique stores play a role in their marriages. This is a perfect snapshot of some good TRUTHS that we will walk away with after our upcoming marriage conference.  If you want to sign up for the 2021 February marriage conference, head to our website at providenceomaha.org.

080 - Living Missionally

December 30, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MB

Living missionally IS NOT an option. It is a command from Jesus. JOIN US on this podcast as Jared and Jourdan describe what it means to “live on mission” and how our church wants to “co-labor” with God in making and sending disciples. 

079 - The Church Responds to the Bible-In-A-Year Plan

December 23, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MB

We spent the past year reading through the ENTIRE Bible! On this episode, we listen to stories from our church family about how God impacted them through reading the Bible in one year.

The Church Responds to the Bible-In-A-Year Plan

December 23, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MB

We spent the past year reading through the ENTIRE Bible! On this episode, we listen to stories from our church family about how God impacted them through reading the Bible in one year.

078 - Giving Financially in Hard Times

December 16, 2020 09:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MB

December of 2020 not only is it the season of financial asks and donations, but it is also in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken many jobs and changed life situations. In this podcast, we address questions like, "What does it look like to give generously in hard times?" and "Do I need financially give or is giving of my time enough?" Join us as we look at our call as Christians when it comes to giving financially and generously no matter the life situation.

077 - Why should I "belong" to a church family?

December 09, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MB

In today's day and age, the idea of "belonging," or fully committing to something, can sometimes seem obsolete. We can pick up our phones and immediately play a song on Spotify or find people online who validate our thoughts. Jobs can exist for seasons and old clothes can be thrown out for new ones. So, how does our consumerism bleed into the church? In this podcast, we discuss possible reasons why we avoid commitment to a church family, the biblical call to BELONG and commit to a church fam...

076 - Advent Explained

December 02, 2020 17:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MB

Advent is celebrated in churches around the world for centuries, but a lot of us have no idea why it’s actually important or what the consequences would be if didn’t have it. In this podcast, we travel back in time to re-listen to one of our previous podcasts over Advent to prepare our hearts this season.

075 - Living as a Missionary Family in Thailand

November 25, 2020 09:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MB

In this episode, we travel to Kansas City to interview the Thaos, our missionary friends who are on home assignment from their work in Bangkok, Thailand. They share stories of how God called them to missions and what it is like living as a missionary family overseas. 

074 - Enduring Icy Winters While Radiating Global Outreach

November 11, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MB

As Christians, we value overseas missions, but why? Why do we use resources to send people overseas when we have people in our city who are not saved? In this podcast, we discuss the importance of Global Missions in God's sovereign plan. 

073 - Godly Leadership

November 11, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

Leaders shape and mold our day to day lives. In this podcast, we discuss how godly leadership impacts us each day and what it looks like to be a godly leader. 

074 - Why Value Global Missions?

November 11, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MB

As Christians, we value overseas missions, but why? Why do we use resources to send people overseas when we have people in our city who are not saved? In this podcast, we discuss the importance of Global Missions in God's sovereign plan. 

074 - Icy Winters + Global Outreach

November 11, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MB

As Christians, we value overseas missions, but why? Why do we use resources to send people overseas when we have people in our city who are not saved? In this podcast, we discuss the importance of Global Missions in God's sovereign plan. 

072 - Our Hearts After the Election

November 04, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MB

The election is still happening... but what about when it's over? Then what? In this podcast, we highlight three responses that we as Christians can have to shape our hearts no matter our feelings over the election’s outcome.

071 - Changing Your Voting Lens

October 28, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MB

The 2020 election is just around the corner, but how do we as Christians vote? Through what lens should we view the voting process? In this podcast, we explore what a Christian's posture should look like toward politics during this time.

070 - Reaction to The Social Dilemma Documentary

October 21, 2020 08:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MB

The Netflix documentary-drama hybrid, "The Social Dilemma," has sparked conversation around whether social media is detrimental to humankind. Join us as we discuss social media's impact on our lives and dissect some of the arguments made in this film.

069 - Is Jesus Legit?

October 14, 2020 08:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MB

Is Jesus legit? How do we know that he is really “the King”? Our worship pastor, Steve, wrestled with these questions and stumbled upon Timothy Keller’s book “Jesus The King: Understanding the Life and Death of the Son of God.” In this podcast, we introduce our new worship pastor and then sift through what it means to see Jesus as King and how Timothy Keller answer this question in his book, “Jesus the King.”

068 - Statement of Faith: Clarifying What We Believe

October 07, 2020 08:00 - 31 minutes - 21.3 MB

We look at Providence’s statement of faith and why it is important for church members to know their church’s statement of faith. Questions like, “Do I need to believe in predestination or that God chose me to be in this church?” and “Why does Jesus’ second coming mean that I should live a holy life?” are discussed and answered in this episode. 

067 - Be The Bridge

September 30, 2020 08:00 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MB

With racial tensions at the forefront of our cultural moment, members in our church have asked how we, as Christians, engage in this area. A group of people spent the summer reading Latasha Morrison’s book, Be the Bridge, to learn how to engage in racial reconciliation conversations. Join us as we review this book with them and how it might be helpful for you during this time.

066 - Why We Pray & COVID Positive

September 23, 2020 09:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MB

We continue with our Question & Response spin-off series on the Christian Formation Podcast. “Why do I pray if God already knows my heart?” and “What is a positive impact from COVID-19 on the church?” are two questions we dig into on this recording.  Book Reference: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer.  Email us at [email protected] with questions, thoughts, or podcast topics.

066QR - Why We Pray & COVID Positive

September 23, 2020 09:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MB

We continue with our Question & Response spin-off series on the Christian Formation Podcast. “Why do I pray if God already knows my heart?” and “What is a positive impact from COVID-19 on the church?” are two questions we dig into on this recording.  Book Reference: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer.  Email us at [email protected] with questions, thoughts, or podcast topics.

065 - Prayer, Chronicles, and Persecution

September 16, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MB

What was an audible to our normal schedule on the Christian formation podcast looks like it will now a staple for upcoming episodes. Instead of producing two book reviews each month, we will replace one book review with a Question & Response from our church and listeners. In this episode, we explore why Chronicles is at the end of the Old Testament in our Bible Reading Plan, why we pray aloud, and why God calls Israel to kill an entire people in the book of Judges. Join us as we ask these q...

065QR - Prayer, Chronicles, and Persecution

September 16, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MB

What was an audible to our normal schedule on the Christian formation podcast looks like it will now a staple for upcoming episodes. Instead of producing two book reviews each month, we will replace one book review with a Question & Response from our church and listeners. In this episode, we explore why Chronicles is at the end of the Old Testament in our Bible Reading Plan, why we pray aloud, and why God calls Israel to kill an entire people in the book of Judges. Join us as we ask these q...

064 - Judges: How compromise leads to demise

September 09, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 20.6 MB

"Compromise Leads to Demise"… sounds a little intimidating, right? Well, the book of Judges in the Bible isn’t to be taken lightly, but is instead to be looked at as the antithesis of what it looks like to be God’s citizens here on Earth. However, there is much we can learn and apply to benefit our lives in a positive way. In this episode, we discuss the Biblical book of Judges and why we as a church should be excited to learn from its teachings during this season.