Thinking Fellows

In this episode of Thinking Fellows, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, Bruce Hillman, and Adam Francisco discuss common objections to the Protestant Reformation. They discuss whether Luther caused division in the church and whether the Reformation destroyed the sacraments, explaining why Lutherans believe the Reformation restored the biblical teaching of justification by faith alone and the proper use of...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, and Adam Francisco welcome Wes Huff to discuss how we got the Bible. They explain how the Old and New Testament books were passed down, recognized as Scripture, and preserved by generations of Christians. They also discuss how historians use ancient manuscripts to study the Bible and why other writings, such as the Gnostic gospels, wer...

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman discuss how to explain the Christian faith in 60 seconds or less. They explain why the most important message is that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and how the Apostles' Creed and Luther's Small Catechism help Christians understand and share what they believe. They also discuss why sharin...

Learn the history, context, and significance of the Augsburg Confession, and discover why this foundational document became a defining statement of the Lutheran Reformation. Subscribe to 25 Minutes in the Lutheran Confessions on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to 25 Minutes in the Lutheran Confessions on Spotify Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook   More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, Bruce Hillman, and Adam Francisco discuss whether the internet has contributed to the decline of Christianity and religious participation. They talk about how the internet can give us endless information while pulling us away from real community, personal relationships, and the authority of the church. They also explain why Christians...

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows , Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, Bruce Hillman, and Scott Keith discuss the kingdom of God and what Jesus means when He says the kingdom is near. They explain the Lutheran view that the kingdom is centered on Christ and comes to us through the Word and Sacraments, rather than something Christians must build through their own work. The Fellows also talk about t...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , Caleb Keith, Bruce Hillman, and Adam Francisco discuss what it means to be "in the world but not of the world" from John 17. They explain how Christians are called to live and serve their neighbors in the world without making worldly rules, politics, or personal choices a test of Christian faith. The Christian's confidence comes not from how well we separate o...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman discuss how important Greek and Hebrew are for pastors and theologians. They talk about the benefits of studying the biblical languages, the limits of knowing only a little, and how modern tools and English translations can help with Bible study. They also explain how these skills can serve the church by helping p...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman talk about how Christians should think about AI and how it is changing the way we work, think, and interact with the world. They discuss AI as a powerful tool and an environment that is shaping us, along with questions about writing, education, truth, technology, and the growing role of AI in everyday life. Most i...

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman talk about the state of modern Christian apologetics. They discuss Adam's recent apologetics conference in Cambridge, the value of serious Christian scholarship, and why clear thinking and clear writing still matter. They also look at materialism, science, certainty, and the ways Christians can respond...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, and Daniel Emery Price listen to an old recording from Rod Rosenbladt and discuss the Lutheran view of Law and Gospel. They explain that the Law shows us our sin and puts the old sinner to death, while the Gospel gives life through Christ and has the final word. They also discuss Christian freedom, antinomianism, vocation, and why the...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, Bruce Hillman, and Scott Keith share their summer reading lists, ranging from the Bible and church fathers to history, politics, philosophy, fiction, and swimming. Their conversation explores everything from the transition of Rome from paganism to Christianity and Thomas Sowell's ideas about human nature to the problem of evil and...

What makes a church "healthy"? In this episode of the Thinking Fellows, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman examine the popular language of healthy churches, church growth, and discipleship. They question whether marketing metrics have replaced the biblical marks of the church and argue that the true measure of the church is the faithful preaching of Christ crucified and th...

On this episode of Thinking Fellows, the guys ask what it means to call Christianity, Judaism, and Islam the "Abrahamic faiths." They look at the history of the term and what these religions actually share. They also explain why their differences, especially about Jesus Christ, matter more than the label and how Christians can talk with Jews and Muslims without losing the truth of the Gospel. More...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , the guys discuss the ongoing debate over children's church and whether kids should be separated from adults during worship. They argue that Christian worship is more than age appropriate teaching. God works through the proclamation of His Word and the sacraments for believers of every age, making children an important part of the gathered church. Drawing from...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , Adam, Bruce, and Caleb explore whether Martin Luther can be trusted, responding to modern critiques that question his character, motives, and mental state as a way of dismissing the Reformation. They argue that while Luther was at times emotional, outspoken, and flawed, his theology should be judged by how faithfully it interprets Scripture rather than by spec...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , Adam Francisco discusses his new book The Turk at the Door , exploring how Martin Luther understood Islam, the Ottoman Empire, and the challenges facing Christendom during the Reformation. The conversation examines Luther's distinction between just war and holy war, his study of the Quran, and why Christians should understand Islam without confusing political...

Caleb, Scott, and Bruce discuss the claim that young men are making a dramatic return to regular church attendance. They examine the data and the growing implications of the widening differences between young men and young women in their dispositions toward Christianity. Ultimately, the fellows urge caution and patience, warning against adopting a new "seeker-sensitive" approach to church in an at...

In this episode of Thinking Fellows , Dr. Scott Keith and Caleb Keith discuss the state of Christianity in Finland with pastor and youth director Toni Kokkonen . The conversations examines how Lutheranism shaped Finnish culture and identity, the challenges posed by secularization and debates within the Finnish state church, and the role of confessional renewal movements seeking to remain faithful...

Did the Apostle Paul invent Christianity? Did his teachings contradict the message of Jesus? These claims have become increasingly common in popular books, documentaries, podcasts, and online discussions. The Fellows refute this idea and present compelling reasons to see and believe that the New Testament speaks with one voice. More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! Lear...

The Thinking Fellows discuss proclimation, apologetics, and epistemology. What does it mean that the Christian faith is certain? How does certainty of God's word differ from analytic certainty like mathmatics? The certainty of the Christian faith comes from a divine word of promise that points us to the death and ressurection of Christ for both knowledge and faith. More from 1517: Give to the June...

Caleb Keith and John Hoyum discuss the content and purpose of the Athanasian Creed. What is this third ecumenical creed, and why do Lutherans still confess it today? More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! Learn more about the 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theol...

"America was designed to destroy baptism" is a famous quote from Dr. Steven Paulson and his appearance on the Thinking Fellows live show in 2017. Caleb and Scott are joined by Dan van Voorhis to examine the truth behind Dr. Paulson's statement. Together, they explore the rejection of infant baptism in American Protestantism and how this shift has often turned faith and knowledge into meritorious w...

The Thinking Fellows examine one of Christianity's most difficult and avoided topics: hell. In a world where many people either explain hell away or imagine it through the lens of Dante and Milton rather than Scripture, the Fellows discuss what Christians can seriously and straightforwardly confess about eternal judgment. Looking especially to the teaching and ministry of Jesus Christ, the convers...

The Thinking Fellows examine a common question about the Christian life and God's power and plans. What are common mistakes made when talking about God ordaining or planning the events and conditions in our lives? In what ways is it true that God has a plan for you? The conversation leads people toward the finished work of Christ and God's means of communication to his people. Show Notes: Support...