7 of the Best Books I Read in 2021, Part 2 In alphabetical order, I will be posting some short reviews of seven of the best books I read in 2021. Christian Hospitality and Muslim Immigration in an Age of Fear by Matthew Kaemingk (Eerdmans, 2018). Matthew Kaemingk is the Richard John Mouw Assistant Professor of Faith and Public Life at Fuller Theological Seminary. His research and teaching focus on marketplace theology, Islam and political ethics, and public theology. Christian... Read more
For far too long, North America Christians have been too church-centric: We go to church to worship, get fed the Word, partake of the sacraments/ordinances of baptism and communion, participate in encouraging community for spiritual growth, etc. Our church worship services are evangelistic as well with sermons that share the gospel of Jesus and His kingdom while explaining the need to confess sin, repent, and believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation. So much has been centered on our time in our... Read more
7 of the Best Books I Read in 2021, Part 1 In alphabetical order, I will provide some short reviews of seven of the best books I read in 2021. Against the Gods: The Polemical Theology of the Old Testament By John D. Currid (Crossway, 2013). A college student in my ministry is fascinated with ancient world history and has been peppering me with questions about how the biblical accounts mesh with the other ancient myths. This has always been... Read more
Listen to the podcast on your favorite app Episode Description What is a Christian’s role in making cultural change? What is a Christian’s role in a polarized political society? Does the gospel of Jesus Christ inform us on any of this? Dr. Bruce Ashford (Ph.D. in Theological Studies, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is an author, speaker, and columnist. He wrote or co-wrote nine books, including Every Square Inch: An Introduction to Cultural Engagement for Christians, The Gospel of Our King: Bible,... Read more
Listen to the podcast on your favorite app Episode Description Yes, we can deepen our Christian discipleship by reintegrating faith, work, and economics. Our guest, Charlie Self, says that Christians have the means to bless their local economies in unique ways that can transform coworkers and neighbors as Christ is glorified. We discuss wholehearted discipleship that extends beyond our Sundays at church and into our workplaces the rest of the week. Dr. Charlie Self is a Christian leader whose knowledge... Read more
Click here to watch the video at Vidyard Listen to the podcast on your favorite app Episode Description In a society fixated on anxiety, competition, and comparison Jesus Christ offers another path. He has told his followers that instead of living in constant striving and competition that each of us has equal dignity and worth. It’s often assumed that the good life is only for the most wealthy, attractive, and powerful. Poor, sad, and suffering people are left... Read more
Listen to the podcast on your favorite app: Or watch the video: Follow this link to watch at Vidyard: Who cares for the Creation? With Dr. Jonathan A. Moo The significance of the Bible’s extensive teaching about the natural world is easily overlooked by Christians accustomed to focusing only on what the Bible says about God’s interaction with human beings. Who cares about the creation? Well, God told us humans that we are supposed to care for the creation. Jonathan... Read more
Listen to the podcast on your favorite app: Or watch the video: watch video at vidyard How does our faith inform our public life? We know it addresses our personal lives, our personal holiness, our families, our churches. But does our faith inform our work? Our enjoyment of art? Of fashion? Of architecture? Instead of simply relying on the political pundits on the cable news channels, do we have access to theologically shaped ideas to issues like political ideologies, immigration,... Read more
As I teach discipleship, I want to create visual tools to help people grasp the various dimensions of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. This is what I’m using this year: The word ‘disciple’ means ‘learner’ or ‘pupil.’ But here’s the key: A learner or pupil of Jesus, not some human, not some preacher, not some professor, not some author, not some celebrity, not some mystic guru. We are called to be apprenticed by Jesus. And we are called to... Read more
Listen to the podcast on your favorite app: Or watch the video: Episode Description: Too many of us have experienced abuse of power from pastors in our churches. This happens in churches that have allowed for a culture of toxicity. To resist toxicity, we need to restore goodness in our churches. The Hebrew word translated “good” is tov. Scot McKnight and his daughter Laura Barringer have written A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power... Read more
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