TGC Q&A
104 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago -Each week, we’re joined by Council members of The Gospel Coalition Council and friends who provide biblical perspective on your most pressing questions. Whatever your doubts or questions may be, this is a space where we hope to share biblical insight into life’s questions together.
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Episodes
How Can Churches Live Out the Doctrines of Grace?
January 09, 2021 06:00 - 7 minutes - 6.74 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry address the question, “How can churches live out the doctrines of grace?” They address: Cherishing and living the doctrines of grace (:29) Being prepared to die (:59) Loving others to the end (2:12) Gospel doctrine, gospel culture (3:32) What impedes gospel culture and progress (5:09) Explore more from TGC on churches living out the doctrines of grace here and here. This episode of TGC Q&A is sponsored by Thrivent, helping peopl...
How Do I Choose Solid Study Resources?
January 06, 2021 06:00 - 6 minutes - 5.92 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Jackie Hill Perry and Colleen McFadden address the question, “How do I choose solid study resources?” They address: Discerning the right options (:29) Not listening to just anyone’s recommendations (1:19) Time in the Scripture shapes your understanding of good resources (2:30) Your ultimate resource (2:44) Trusted people and organizations (3:19) Not neglecting prayer (3:45) Good online resources (4:21) Not letting online resources replace the church (5:04)...
Sandra McCracken and Ellie Holcomb Discuss Their Favorite Christmas Carols
December 23, 2020 06:00 - 6 minutes - 5.69 MBIn this bonus episode of TGC Q&A, Sandra McCracken and Ellie Holcomb discuss their favorite Christmas carols: “O Holy Night”—even with the high note (:53) “Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming” (2:04) “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and Charlie Brown (2:23) “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger” (4:25) “O Come All Ye Faithful” (5:23) Explore more from TGC on Christmas and Advent songs here, here, and here.
Fernando Ortega and Stuart Townend Discuss Their Favorite Christmas Carols
December 19, 2020 06:00 - 5 minutes - 5.26 MBIn this bonus episode of TGC Q&A, Fernando Ortega and Stuart Townend discuss their favorite Christmas carols: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” (:44) “In the Bleak Midwinter” (1:00) “Joy to the World “(1:27) “O Come All Ye Faithful” (1:59) Huge language to grapple with mind-blowing truths (2:18) The humility of the Godhead as an infant (3:08) Honesty in Christmas songs (4:07) Explore more from TGC on Christmas and Advent songs here, here, and here.
How Should Churches Biblically Address Divorce?
December 16, 2020 06:00 - 8 minutes - 7.53 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Russell Moore and Mika Edmondson address the question, “How should churches biblically address divorce?” They discuss: Spiritual warfare in at least two directions (:28) How God speaks about divorce (2:34) When the home is not safe—abandonment (4:55) Divorce as a weapon and Jesus’s response (6:15) Explore more from TGC on the topic of divorce. This episode of TGC Q&A is sponsored by Thrivent, helping people achieve financial clarity, enabling lives that are ...
How Do I Evangelize Generation Z?
December 09, 2020 06:00 - 8 minutes - 7.67 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Derek Rishmawy and Cameron Cole address the question, “How do I evangelize Generation Z?” They discuss: Understanding Generation Z (:28) Technology and instant gratification (2:08) Evangelism by Generation Z (5:07) Explore more from TGC on this topic: Meet Generation Z 3 Books to Help Church Leaders Understand Gen Z (or iGen) This episode of TGC Q&A is sponsored by Thrivent, helping people achieve financial clarity, enabling lives that are full of meaning a...
Why Should All Women Learn to Study the Bible?
December 02, 2020 06:00 - 5 minutes - 4.94 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Taylor Turkington and Jen Wilkin address the question, “Why should women learn to study the Bible?” They discuss: Knowing God (:27) When “we don’t need more Bible knowledge” (1:28) Growing as the church of God (2:14) Equipping to serve others (2:58) The joy of biblical depth (3:37) Explore more from TGC on this topic: Is the Bible Good for Women? Training Women to Teach the Bible (Panel) This episode of TGC Q&A is sponsored by Thrivent, helping people ach...
How Do I Proclaim Christ as the ‘Only Way’ in a Pluralistic Age?
November 25, 2020 06:00 - 6 minutes - 6.31 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Jackie Hill Perry and Jen Pollock address the question, “How do I proclaim Christ as the only way in a pluralistic age?” They discuss: “You do you” (:29) An invitation to save your life (1:45) When “you do you” rubs others the wrong way (2:48) Participating in the activities of Jesus (4:07) A greater joy (4:48) The exhaustion of autonomy and the rest of Christ (5:34) Explore more from TGC on this topic: The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society Contradict This...
What Did Paul Mean by ‘I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach’?
November 18, 2020 06:00 - 6 minutes - 6.11 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Tim Keller and Don Carson address the question, “What did Paul mean by ‘I do not permit a woman to teach'?” They discuss: What Paul actually forbids (:29) The debate over whether he forbids one thing or two (2:21) Imperial ignorance—it can’t be known (3:43) Transcultural exhortation (4:15) Explore more from TGC on this topic: Should Women Preach In Our Churches? Pastors Need Women Teachers (and Vice Versa) This episode of TGC Q&A is brought to you by Opera...
What’s the Future of Religious Freedom in the U.S.?
November 11, 2020 06:00 - 10 minutes - 10 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Russell Moore and Kristen Waggoner address the question, “What’s the future of religious freedom in the U.S.?” They discuss: Hope for the future of religious freedom (:29) Why religious freedom is important (1:43) Preparing churches to build conscience in its people (2:43) Wisdom to differentiate violation of conscience from things that are not (3:58) Religious freedom outside of churches (5:36) Dying to self vs. building precedent for others (7:00) Being f...
How Has Secularism Shaped Contemporary Christianity?
November 04, 2020 06:00 - 6 minutes - 5.87 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Mike Cosper and Alan Noble address the question, “How has secularism shaped contemporary Christianity?” They discuss: How secularism has shaped the hearts of church leaders (:28) Entrepreneurship-shaped models of church (1:27) Uncontested adoption of technologies (3:20) When worship feels categorically like every other experience (4:23) Leaning into the purposeful differences (5:19) Explore more from TGC and these contributors on this subject: Disruptive Wi...
What Does Ineffective Apologetics Look Like?
October 28, 2020 05:00 - 8 minutes - 7.56 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Josh Chatraw and Mark Allen address the question, “What does ineffective apologetics look like?” They discuss: Appealing to your base leading to polarization (:28) Canned approaches (2:37) Addressing objections poorly (3:35) Avoiding ineffective approaches and giving hope (5:14) Defining effective apologetics (7:20) Explore more from TGC on the featured topic of apologetics. This episode of TGC Q&A is brought to you by Operation Christmas Child. National Co...
How Should Christians Pray During Elections?
October 21, 2020 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.19 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Mika Edmondson and Russell Moore address the question, “How should Christians pray during elections?” They discuss: Praying generally and individually (:28) Praying for unity, humility, and empathy (2:03) Avoiding “apocalyptic” attitudes (3:20) Seeing beyond particular moral perspectives (4:27) Explore more from TGC on navigating election season here: 4 Ways to Worship—Not Worry—This Election Season The Two Articles Every Christian Should Read the Day After...
What Does it Mean to Be a New Creation?
October 14, 2020 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.35 MBRebecca McLaughlin and Taylor Turkington discuss: Complete transformation (:29) Everything made new (1:42) Newness that progresses (3:16) Power perfected in weakness (3:46) Waiting for completion (4:30) Clinging to Christ in a new value system (5:12) Explore more from TGC on this topic: The New Creation New Creation in Paul’s Letters and Thought This episode of TGC Q&A is sponsored by WinShape Marriage. Their passion is to create experiences that transform your relationship with y...
What Bible Passage Do You Treasure Most?
October 07, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutes - 6.52 MBCrawford Loritts and Jason Cook answer the question, “What Bible passage do you treasure most?” They discuss: 1 Corinthians 1:18—foolishness and folly (:27) Reasons verses resonate with us (1:18) Joshua 1:8—the Bible and its context for our lives (1:48) Belief in the sufficiency of God’s Word (3:41) The power of God’s Word to do hard work (5:18) Gifts and God’s Word (5:57) Explore more from TGC on this topic: The Sufficiency of Scripture Finding the Right Bible Reading Plan This ep...
What Would Be Different Without Christ's Resurrection?
September 30, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutes - 7.29 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, Rico Tice and Scott Oliphint discuss how the world would be different if Christ had not risen. They address: The hope of the resurrection (:32) The certainty of hope because of the resurrection (2:16) The resurrection as a warning (5:05) The resurrection as a basis for judgment (6:56) Explore more from TGC on this topic: Neglecting the Resurrection The Resurrection This episode of TGC Q&A is sponsored by WinShape Marriage. Their passion is to create exper...
Christians and Healthcare: How Does COVID-19 Affect Kids and Babies?
September 23, 2020 05:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBIn the last episode of TGC Q&A’s Christians and Healthcare series, Dr. Scott James answers the question, “How does COVID-19 affect kids and babies?” He addresses: What should I know about the effect on children and their ability to infect others with COVID-19? (:40) Long-term outcomes (2:45) Do babies respond well to COVID-19? What wisdom is there for parents during this pandemic? (3:25) Very young infants and COVID-19 (4:39) Encouragement for new parents in a pandemic (5:22) How does ...
Christians and Healthcare: Can Protecting My Health Become an Idol?
September 16, 2020 05:00 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBIn this third episode of TGC Q&A’s Christians and Healthcare series, Dr. Bob Cutillo answers the question, “Can protecting my health become an idol?” He addresses: What are signs that I’ve made an idol out of pursuing health? (1:40) Health as a possession vs. a gift (2:40) Health as an end in itself or a means to an end (4:44) Anxiety in regard to health (6:33) Health and a Christian view of suffering (7:45) In what ways does faith intersect with providing the best medical care? (9:15...
Christians and Healthcare: How Do I Care for Those With Dementia?
September 09, 2020 05:00 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBIn the second episode of TGC Q&A’s Christians and Healthcare series, Dr. John Dunlop answers the question, “How do I care for those with dementia?” He addresses: What is the hardest part about the effects of dementia? (:45) Challenges and hope for those who face dementia and their loved ones (1:19) God’s purposes in dementia (3:39) How do we differentiate between worsening dementia and the effects of polypharmacy? (6:33) How can believers have a biblical perspective on modern medicine?...
Christians and Healthcare: How Should Christians View the End of Life?
September 02, 2020 05:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBIn this first episode of TGC Q&A’s Christians and Healthcare series, Dr. Katie Butler answers the question, “How should Christians view the end of life?” She addresses: Framing the discussion (:42) Should Christians should always choose to “extend life?” (1:44) Thinking biblically in tumultuous situations (3:38) Four biblical principles for approaching end-of-life care (6:01) Seeking a cure, accepting death, and alleviating suffering (11:42) Evangelism in the ICU and palliative care (...
What Is the Place of God’s Word in My Ministry?
August 26, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 4.88 MBJackie Hill Perry and Colleen McFadden discuss the place of God's Word in ministry. They address: The purpose of the Bible and biblical ministry (:31) The value of ministry of the Word (1:23) Teaching in one-on-one settings (2:14) The need for ministers to value the Word personally (3:09) Serving vs. speaking gifts (3:46) Explore more from TGC on this topic: Word-Filled Women’s Ministry: Loving and Serving the Church Word-Based Ministry to Women
Has Christianity Done More Harm Than Good?
August 19, 2020 05:00 - 8 minutes - 7.48 MBGlen Scrivener and Sam Chan discuss whether or not Christianity has done more good than evil in the world throughout time. They address: Resonance, dissonance, and gospel fulfillment (:30) Christian guilt (1:13) More or less of Jesus? (1:44) Pursuing deeper understanding (2:38) Religions and their wars (4:50) Resources to learn more (5:56) Explore more from TGC on this topic: Where is Jesus Among Genocide and Unthinkable Evil How to Answer the 12 Strongest Objections to Christianity
What Did Paul Mean When He Said We’re “Being Saved”?
August 12, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 4.95 MBRay Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss what Paul meant when he said that we are “being saved.” They address: The journey of salvation (:32) The certainty of salvation (:56) Three tenses of salvation (1:33) Living like new converts (2:50) Mutual assurance of salvation (4:14) Explore more from TGC on this topic: Course on The Doctrine of Salvation
Biblical Counseling: How Do I Find Hope in Suffering?
August 05, 2020 05:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBIn the final episode of our biblical counseling series, Paul Tripp answers the question, “How do I find hope in suffering?” He addresses: The role of lament in suffering (1:00) Complaint vs. lament (1:25) Darkness and lament that leads to hopefulness (3:33) Hope from the Bible for the suffering (4:24) Our understanding High Priest (6:55) Finding hope in the already, not yet world (9:16) Hopelessness as the doorway to hope (10:12) How to renew your mind in suffering (12:43) Speaking ...
Biblical Counseling: What Does God Say to Those Who Struggle with Addiction?
July 29, 2020 05:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBIn this episode of our TGC Q&A biblical counseling series, Mark Shaw answers the question, “What does God say to those who struggle with addiction?” He addresses: How to help others in your church seeking to overcome addiction (:54) Addiction as a sin issue (1:14) Becoming a spiritual heart doctor (2:26) Partnership in counseling (2:55) Biblical encouragement for someone battling addiction (7:23) Behavioral modification and heart transformation (12:21) Dealing with shame (15:18) Help...
Biblical Counseling: Should Christians Be Skeptical About Counseling?
July 22, 2020 05:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A’s biblical counseling series, Nate Brooks answers the question, “Should Christians be skeptical about counseling?” He addresses: Encouraging reluctant people toward counseling (:35) Allowing others to see our struggles (2:03) Patience for others (2:47) Prayer for others (4:05) Talking about counseling in a helpful way (3:55) The first step in seeking counseling (7:03) Thankfulness for God’s leadership toward godly counsel (5:25) Bringing along a friend as a...
Biblical Counseling: How Do We Care for Families Who Have Gone Through Miscarriage?
July 15, 2020 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBIn this episode of our TGC Q&A biblical counseling series, Rebekah Hannah answers the question, “How can we care for families who have gone through miscarriage?” She addresses: Caring for a friend after a miscarriage (1:10) Speaking too quickly (2:05) Commiseration vs. hope (2:47) Minimizing pain (3:18) Promising what God has not (3:55) Saying nothing at all (4:40) Church support following perinatal loss (5:25) Learning from the stories of God’s people (7:13) Practical service (8:00...
Biblical Counseling: What Does the Bible Say About Divorce and Remarriage?
July 08, 2020 05:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBJames Newheiser, Jr. answers the question, “What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?” He addresses: Biblical grounds for divorce (:40) Unfaithfulness, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation (1:24) Abandonment and sanctification (6:00) When a spouse leaves (10:21) Abuse as a form of abandonment (12:25) When the abuser is a “believer” (14:40) The nature of the divorce answers the question of remarriage (15:52) The virtual widow (17:16) A word of caution for those who...
Biblical Counseling: What Does God Say to Those Who Struggle with Body Image?
July 01, 2020 05:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBShanda Anderson answers the question, “What Does God Say to Those Who Struggle with Body Image?” She addresses: Biblical encouragement for someone struggling with an eating disorder (1:54) Cultural directives for identity formation (2:28) Social media as a weapon of mass destruction (4:46) Loves disordered by sin (6:20) Recognizing and struggling with motivations behind habits (9:15) God-given value that overcomes body image struggles (13:16) Shame as a barrier to healthy identity (17...
Biblical Counseling: How Do I Honor God When Marriage Gets Tough?
June 24, 2020 05:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBIn the fourth episode of our biblical counseling series, Josh Squires answers the question, “How do I honor God when marriage gets tough?” He addresses: Common questions about marriage (:25) Functionality in marriage (1:20) Complimentary marriage (1:40) When the husband doesn’t lead (5:28) Engaging a spiritually apathetic spouse (9:46) Apathy and the stages of change (12:22) Helping your spouse move on from apathy (16:48) The biggest challenge in marriage (18:30) Marriage game theor...
Biblical Counseling: How Can Pastors Care for Their Own Souls?
June 17, 2020 05:00 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MBIn the third episode of the biblical counseling series, Lois Kehlenbrink answers the question, “How can pastors care for their own souls?" She addresses: Spiritual plateau (:53) Taking physical inventory (1:30) The importance of Sabbath rest (2:00) Neglected pastoral wounds (4:00) Help for lingering hurts (6:27) Wounds as tools to understand God’s love (9:41) Identifying with the suffering of Christ (10:44) Dignity and delight in fellowship with Christ (13:00) Grieving that underst...
Biblical Counseling: How Do I Overcome Anxiety and Depression?
June 10, 2020 05:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBIn the second episode of our biblical counseling series on TGC Q&A, Andrew Dealy answers the question, “How do I overcome anxiety and depression?” He addresses: Fighting guilt and finding resilience (:37) The natural response to a fallen and broken world (1:22) Lessons from Matthew 6:25-34 and Phil 4:4-9 (1:56) Learning not to be ruled by our emotions (3:09) Jesus fighting anxiety in the Garden (5:15) A great hope to overcome anxiety (7:22) Deciphering the factors that feed anxiety (8...
Biblical Counseling: How Do I Find Peace in the Midst of Fear?
June 03, 2020 05:00 - 10 minutes - 9.8 MBAs part of the biblical counseling series on TGC Q&A, Ed Welch answers the question, “How do I find peace in the midst of fear?” He addresses: Framing the question (1:04) The natural understanding of the command not to be afraid (2:13) Matthew 6—Jesus’ command to avoid anxiety (3:40) An encouraging walk with Jesus (4:10) Our aim in avoiding fear (5:14) Merging fear and faith (6:12) Being honest about our fears and placing our trust in God (7:57) What we should expect as we grow in ou...
Will Evangelism Change as America Becomes Post-Christian?
May 27, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutes - 6.8 MBDerek Rishmawy and Cameron Cole discuss whether or not evangelism will change as America becomes post-Christian. They address: Growing trends (:35) Careful, intentional use of our Christian language (1:42) The confusion of Christian jargon (2:35) Long-term relationships that allow time for clarity (3:30) The failures of secularism and the need for Jesus (5:10) Find more from TGC on this topic: Evangelizing People in a Post-Christian Society How Evangelism Works in a Post-Christian...
Should I Use Pre-Written Studies to Study the Bible?
May 20, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutes - 7.24 MBNancy Guthrie and Courtney Doctor discuss pre-written Bible studies and their usefulness for Christians studying the Bible. They address: The value of expertise in pre-written studies (:54) Gleaning benefits from well-stewarded work (1:48) Recommendations for finding good and helpful Bible studies (2:29) The most important elements of producing a good Bible study (5:15) Creating user-friendly, helpful resources (6:31) Find more from TGC on this topic: Is Your Bible Study a Christian B...
Can I Lose My Salvation?
May 13, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 5.45 MBJonathan Leeman and John Onwuchekwa discuss whether or not believers are able to lose our salvation. They address: Hebrews 6 (:34) Regenerate language in the passage (1:16) Old Testament figures who “lost” the Holy Spirit (1:46) Phenomenological language in the passage (2:09) Inability for one who is born again to be “not born again” (2:48) Hebrews 6 in light of 1 John 2—a warning to heed (4:03) Read more from TGC on this topic: Does Hebrews 6 Teach You Can Lose Your Salvation? J.D....
How Should I Engage Unbelievers in Conversations About God?
May 06, 2020 05:00 - 8 minutes - 7.48 MBTaylor Turkington and Rebecca McLaughlin discuss ways to engage unbelievers in conversations about God. They address: Understanding our assumptions about evangelism (:43) Framing gospel conversations (1:16) Turning conversations to spiritual things (2:13) Being honest about your own need for Jesus (2:40) Inviting others to worship services as part of evangelism (4:03) Talking about the Bible and the gospel message (4:38) Challenges to talking about the gospel (6:05) Trusting the Lord...
How Could Jesus Not Know the Day or Hour of His Return?
April 29, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutes - 6.52 MBAl Mohler and Bryan Chapell discuss how and why Jesus could not know the day and hour of his return. They address: Correctly framing the question (:30) Clarity from the early Christian church (1:20) The function of Christ’s human nature (1:44) The necessary humanity of Christ as good news (3:12) Assumed limitation for the sake of substitution (4:54) Christ as perfect humanity glorified (5:54) Read more from TGC on this topic: What Does It Mean to Be Human? See Jesus. The Man Christ...
How Do I Challenge 'Buffet-Style' Christianity?
April 22, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutes - 6.77 MBGlen Scrivener and Sam Chan discuss how to challenge “buffet-style” Christianity. They address: The à la carte approach to Bible teaching (:40) The paradox of choice as the key to happiness (1:10) Preference vs. ontology; autonomy vs. truth (2:16) Truth matters—you cannot choose the parts you want and ignore the rest (3:15) Absolute truth via multiple perspectives and the Bible as reference point (4:13) Learning epistemology through an international community of interpreters and episte...
Is Opposing Gay Marriage Just as Bad as Supporting Slavery?
April 15, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutes - 6.54 MBTaylor Turkington and Rebecca McLaughlin discuss whether opposing gay marriage is just as bad as supporting slavery. They address: The biblical treatise against racism. (:45) Ways people have utilized the Bible to justify slavery vs. how people use the Bible to justify same-sex marriage. (1:33) The nature of biblical sexual ethics and authority of the Bible. (2:32) The result of the New Covenant upon the justification of prejudice. (3:10) The centrality of the gospel in any conversatio...
How Should Christians Respond to a Culture of Outrage?
April 09, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutes - 7.17 MBJackie Hill Perry and Jen Pollock Michel discuss how Christians should respond to cultural outrage. In their conversation, they discuss: The expectation of outrage against the claims of the Bible that are offensive to culture The need to differentiate between righteous outrage and emotional cultural response The need to temper our language and aggression when handling disagreement The need to be slow to anger and quick to love when addressing outrage The rightful place of outrage that f...
What Does the Bible Say About the Moment You Die?
April 01, 2020 05:00 - 6 minutes - 5.91 MBIn this episode of TGC Q&A, H. B. Charles and Ligon Duncan discuss what the Bible teaches about the moment believers die. They emphasize the hope Christians have in being immediately found in the presence of Christ following death. The comfort of Christ points not only to an eternity in which all suffering ends after his return, but also to the joy of being with Christ the instant we sleep in death. Such joy caused Paul to vacillate between a desire to serve Christ in the world and leave by ...
Suffering, Healing, and the Hope of Eternity
March 25, 2020 05:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBNancy Guthrie and Joni Eareckson Tada begin their conversation by reflecting on the first time they met, more than 20 years ago. At the time, Guthrie was reading Tada’s book, Heaven: Your Real Home, as Guthrie’s daughter had recently gone home to heaven. This memory prompts Guthrie to ask Tada what it means to set the heart on heaven. Tada says that she does her best to take God’s advice to lay up treasures in heaven, where she will be with Jesus, who makes it a heavenly place. Tada also re...
Why Freedom Needs Boundaries
March 18, 2020 05:00 - 8 minutes - 7.57 MBKaren Swallow Prior begins the conversation by reminding us that there really is no thing as autonomy. We are born into communities, times, and places, and everything that makes up who we are comes from others. In other words, our particularities come from somewhere outside of ourselves. As Christian we understand that it is indeed God who determines the things that make up the individual self. Jen Pollock Michel points that it can be burdensome to believe in yourself. Humans tend to be unr...
What’s the Difference Between Gospel Benefits and Prosperity Theology?
March 11, 2020 05:00 - 8 minutes - 7.38 MBGlen Scrivener begins the conversation by saying the problem with prosperity theology is treating Jesus as though he is the delivery system for a bunch of blessings that are apart from him. Scrivener then references Sinclair Ferguson's book, The Whole Christ, which says that the problem with our gospel presentations is that we talk about every blessing through Jesus when we should preach every blessing in Jesus—offering Christ himself to people. Therefore, Scrivener suggests, you're not prom...
How Should Christians in Power Serve Others?
March 04, 2020 06:00 - 7 minutes - 6.54 MBRussell Moore begins the conversation by pointing to Scripture when Jesus washes Simon Peter’s feet. Moore asks Mika Edmondson what he thinks we can learn from Jesus about power and authority as it relates to serving one another inside and outside the church. Edmondson answers by saying that authority in the church is not exercised in the same way as authority outside of the church. He says that one of the conspicuous ways in which we are to function is not lording it over one another like ...
How Do I Evangelize in Word and Deed?
February 26, 2020 06:00 - 10 minutes - 9.62 MBLigon Duncan begins the conversation by sharing his and David Platt’s shared belief in the primacy of the Word just as God speaks and brings his people into being. Duncan says that as we image God as witnesses, we should speak his word of grace, and the Holy Spirit will use that to bring people to newness of life. Duncan goes on to say that we want to see the Word come to fruition in the lives of the people that we are speaking to, and that if we desire those people to come to faith in Chri...
Why Train Women to Teach the Bible?
February 19, 2020 09:40 - 7 minutes - 6.88 MBTaylor Turkington begins the conversation by highlighting that both men and women in the church can have the gift of teaching the Bible, and because of this, it is important to equip them—just like all the saints should be equipped for the work of the ministry as described in Ephesians 4:12-14. Jen Wilkin says that she notices churches have a lot of pathways for men to teach but not as many of those for women, often leading to an imbalance due to access to tools and resources. Wilkin wants ...
Identity, Sex, and Gender
February 12, 2020 06:00 - 8 minutes - 7.36 MBRay Ortlund begins the discussion by saying that it is harmful for anyone to make aspects of their fallen nature their primary identity. He goes on to say that we all have tendencies toward this, as we often take aspects of our earthly life and make that the ultimate lens through which we see ourselves. This false grid, Ortlund states, can be made up of sexual identity, corporate identity, relationship status, or any number of things. When we come to Christ, Ortlund reminds, we all have to o...
Do I Have to Tithe?
February 03, 2020 06:00 - 8 minutes - 7.65 MBLeeman begins the discussion by outlining four biblical observations about tithing and says that tithing was required of Old Testament Israel in a certain way. Tithing means “tenth.” Leeman says we are now not required to give a tenth of our income in the same way since we are no longer under the mosaic covenant law. So, tithing doesn’t necessarily refer to a particular percentage, but rather, an attitude of generosity. Second, Leeman says when giving, the Christian should do so not reluctan...