The Deep Thoughts Podcast with Matt Shantz

Jorge Salazar spent 10 years planting a Church in Baja, Mexico, while training indigenous pastors and leaders throughout Latin America. He is now the Director for WorldServe Bible College which trains pastors in difficult access areas and persecuted countries of the world. This episode is about training pastors in hard places. ABOUT Jorge Salazar has his doctorate degree in Systematic Theology and...

In this episode Matt has a conversation with Rich Villodas, the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship in Queens. Rich gives Matt a lesson on all things New York, from sports teams to boroughs, where to get the best food, and how no one goes to Staten Island. Then they get into the subject matter of Rich’s CT Award-winning book, The Deeply Formed Life, on five transformative values to ro...

What better way to celebrate our 50th episode than to get the show’s very first contributor on for an opening segment: Emily Shantz. Matt and Emily talk about their favourite episodes and moments so far; Play a 'getting to know you' game they entitled “Seasons of Life”; Revisit some of Emily’s least-favourite Christian jargon: “Doing Life”, “Coming Alongside”, “Brother" and her latest, “Seasons”....

A Deep Thought is a concise episode on a particular aspect of the Christian faith that we sprinkle in between full-length episodes. This deep thought is on sharing Jesus with others.

Matt chats with journalist Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra about the state of the news media today and how Christians can be informed, discerning, and full of hope in an anxious age. In Gospelbound, her book with co-author Collin Hansen, Sarah reveals what authentic gospel living looks like in a culture of anxiety and fear through powerful, hope-stirring stories of believers transforming the world for Jesus...

A Deep Thought is a concise episode on a particular aspect of the Christian faith that we sprinkle in between full-length episodes. This deep thought is on faith and work.

Rachel Gilson is a writer, speaker, and campus minister. Her book, Born Again This Way, is described as offering no glib before-and-after narrative, but is a practical guide for sinners—same-sex attracted and otherwise—who dare to believe that Jesus is the best lover. Rachel’s book (and this interview) get into her story of coming out, coming to faith, and what comes next. ABOUT Rachel Gilson curr...

In this episode Matt chats with Tim Muehlhoff & Richard Langer about their latest book together, Winsome Conviction, which is all about developing the art of loving people in the church with whom we disagree. They also wrote a book called Winsome Persuasion about how Christians should engage the broader culture in a way that is persuasive, civil, and challenges the cultural assumptions of our day...

Is there a way to walk faithfully through doubt and come out the other side with a deeper love for Jesus, the church, and its tradition? Can we question our faith without losing it? Matt chats with AJ about his new book, After Doubt: How To Question Your Faith Without Losing It . ABOUT A. J. Swoboda (PhD, University of Birmingham) is assistant professor of Bible, theology, and world Chri...

This special bonus episode of the podcast is a talk Matt was asked to give for a Youth YouTube night on the topic of Racism & The Great Commission. While the talk is specifically geared toward Grades 6-12’s, we think it is worthwhile hearing Matt address racism from a theological perspective — how Christians should view human beings, nations, and ethnicities in light of what the Bible has to s...

Matt chats with Gavin Ortlund about his book, Finding The Right Hills to Die On .  “In theology, just as in battle, some hills are worth dying on and others are not. But how do we know which ones? When should doctrine divide, and when should unity prevail?” Matt also asks Gavin if there’s any friendly competition in the family of authors. Plus, he tries to get to the bottom of what was in the...

A Deep Thought is a concise episode on a particular aspect of the Christian faith that we sprinkle in between full-length episodes. This deep thought is on how to study the Bible.

Matt and Matt talk about heart postures for Bible-reading before delving into a discussion about Deacons. They also talk about Mark Dever’s internship program and his office (which are both the stuff of legends) and a bonus conversation at the end on what it’s been like being a part of The Gospel Coalition in such polarizing times. *Warning: Deep thoughts not guaranteed. ABOUT: Matt Smethurst Matt...

Matt chats with Martin Smith about his songwriting career, worship leading, the early days of Delirious?, and what he thinks is lost when the church doesn’t gather for corporate worship for a year, before finishing things off with some fun rapid-fire questions. *Warning: Deep thoughts not guaranteed. *Special thanks to Integrity Music and Capitol CMG Publishing for permission to use the songs in t...

A Deep Thought is a concise episode on a particular aspect of the Christian faith that we sprinkle in between full-length episodes. This deep thought is about the claim on which Christianity rises or falls: The resurrection of Jesus. And why—if Jesus did in fact rise—it changes EVERYTHING.

Join Matt and J.T. English for a conversation about deep discipleship in the local church. J.T. skillfully helps us diagnose and treat our discipleship disease. This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about discipleship in the local church context and anyone longing to grow in your discipleship to Jesus. Matt also attempts to convince J.T. that people call Colorado "the poor man’s Britis...

Thaddeus Williams is convinced that social justice is one of the most epic and age-defining controversies facing the 21st-century church. In this episode Thaddeus chats with Matt about his new book, Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth , bringing biblical faithfulness and timely clarity to issues such as racism, Black Lives Matter, Intersectionality, and Critical Race Theory. By distin...

A Deep Thought is a concise episode on a particular aspect of the Christian faith that we sprinkle in between full-length episodes. This deep thought is on the three universal problems that we can’t solve, but Jesus can.

In an episode about Harry Potter as much as anything else, Matt chats with Rebecca McLaughlin about her 2020 Book of the Year, Confronting Christianity and forthcoming, 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (And Answer) About Christianity . In the interview Rebecca responds to some tough questions including: “Why is Christianity accused of being anti-intellectual?”; “Doesn’t Christianity denigrate wo...

A Deep Thought is a concise episode on a particular aspect of the Christian faith that we sprinkle in between full-length episodes. This deep thought is on the inclusive exclusivity of Jesus.

Matt sits down with Dave Currie to talk about porn and the damaging effect it has on our brains, souls, and relationships. They also talk about how the gospel provides forgiving grace (to wash us clean) and empowering grace (to fight sin), and provide a roadmap for recovery. Matt also recounts an embarrassing story that Dave had the pleasure of witnessing. The Deep Thoughts Podcast engages deep th...

Matt sits down with Andy Crouch for a sprawling conversation on everything from Jeopardy to Lecrae, cyborgs to culture-making, and how to approach the easy-everywhere nature of technology with wisdom and faithfulness. The Deep Thoughts Podcast engages deep thinkers on some of their deepest of thoughts so listeners can explore aspects of the Christian faith a little more deeply. *Incredibly, no dee...

While Christians are undeniably generous and compassionate, more than relief projects, “missions tourism”, and individual evangelism are required in order to carry out the work of Jesus in bringing good news to the poor. Matt’s guest, Barry Slauenwhite, explains how it requires strategic compassion. At the end of the episode, we share some ways that you can shine the light of Jesus on some of the...

Matt sits down with Pat Sczebel for a conversation on liturgy, exploring the structure and goals of our worship gatherings. We also talk about the fact that liturgy plays a huge role in all of us individually and corporately whether we recognize it or not. This episode was not brought to you by IKEA. Season 4 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast engages deep thinkers on some of their deepest of thoughts s...

Is progressive Christianity just that? Christianity progressing? Or has it progressed into something else entirely, and a whole other gospel? And what legitimate critiques of evangelicalism is progressivism responding to that we would be wise to listen to and engage with? I talk about all this and more with my guest, ZOEGirl’s own, Alisa Childers. Season 4 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast engages deep...