The Podechesis Podcast

On this very special edition, The Podechesis Podcast  takes a break from our regularly scheduled catechetical dive into what Christians believe and why it matters to bring you a special episode featuring biblical studies professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, pastor, spiritual coach, author, and friend of the show Dr. Brian Russell.    Dr. Russell talks about his new book, Centering Prayer: Sit...

What benefits does salvation bring in this life? Why does justification and sanctification matter?  Can we be assured of God’s love for us and be confident in our salvation?  Can we truly live in joy and peace in this life?   In this episode of the Podechesis podcast, the guys discuss question 36 of John Wesley’s Revision of the Westminster Shorter Catechism : Q36-What are the benefits that in thi...

What is sanctification?  What is Christian perfection?  Is entire sanctification in this life possible?  How does the promise of salvation continue beyond the “altar experience?”   In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, the guys are joined by Dr. Scott Kisker, professor of church history at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH to discuss Question 35 of John Wesley’s Revision of the Westmi...

The Podechesis Podcast (Episode 27): On the Benefits of Salvation: Justification   What is justification?  What about regeneration?  What sort of change does God work in us at the moment of our salvation?  What is salvation and why does it matter?   In this episode of the Podechesis Podcast, the guys tackle questions 33 and 34 in John Wesley’s Revision of the Westminster Shorter Catechism : Q33-Wh...

What are the benefits of salvation?  What does it mean to be justified and sanctified?  Is salvation a moment or a process?  When does God’s grace begin to work in our lives?  What is effectual calling and why did John Wesley strike it out of the catechism all together?   In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, Brett, Jim, and Allen discuss questions 31 and 32 of John Wesley’s Revision of the W...

Who is the Holy Spirit?  What is the Holy Spirit’s role in our salvation and redemption?  How does the Holy Spirit apply the redemption purchased by Christ to us?  What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of an individual?  In the life of the community?   In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, the guys tackle questions 29 and 30 of  John Wesley’s Revision of the Westminster Shorter Cate...

What is the exaltation of Christ?  How does Jesus’ “upward turn” complete the Gospel?  What is the meaning of the Harrowing of Hell, the Resurrection, The ascension, and the 2nd coming?  Why does the exaltation of Jesus even matter?   On this episode of the Podechesis Podcast, the guys discuss question 28 of   John Wesley’s Revision of the Westminster Shorter Catechism , Q28–In what consists of Ch...

What is the humiliation of Christ?  What is the meaning of the incarnation?  How did the Son of God participate in the sufferings of earthly life?  What is the wrath of God and why does a correct understanding of God’s wrath matter today?   In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, Jim, Allen, and Brett are joined by special guest, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Smith, Campus Minister of the Georgia Southern...

What is the biblical understanding of a king?  How does Jesus fulfil this important office?  Why does it matter that Jesus is the king?  What is the Kingdom of God?  Why does God’s kingdom matter?   In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, the guys take on questions 26 of  John Wesley’s Revision of the Westminster Shorter Catechism —Q26: How does Christ execute the office of a king?  They discus...

What is a priest?  How does Jesus exercise the office of priest?  What is a sacrifice and what is the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf?  What is meant by Jesus being the eternal priest?  Why do we need a priest today?   In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, the guys take on questions 25 of John Wesley’s Revision of the Westminster Shorter Catechism —Q25: How does Christ execute the o...

Happy Easter Podechumens! He is risen indeed!!!!!   What are the offices that Jesus executes as our redeemer?  What is the office of Prophet?  How does Jesus fulfill that role?  How does Jesus make God’s will known to humanity?  What is the spiritual gift of prophecy, and how is it connected to the office of prophet that Jesus executes?   On this episode of the Podechesis Podcast, the guys discuss...

What is the incarnation?  Did the second person of the Trinity really put on flesh and experience the human reality?  What is meant by the creedal affirmations of conception by the Holy Spirit and Jesus being born of a virgin?  Is affirmation to the  virgin birth necessary to Christian faith?  If Jesus was tempted as we are, did he also experience sin as we do? On this episode of The Podechesis Po...

Who is Jesus?  What does it mean that he is the redeemer?  Lord?  Son of God?  Eternal?  How is Jesus the answer to the sin problem?  Does Jesus still matter today? In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, Brett, Jim, and Allen discuss question 21 of John Wesley’s Revision of the Westminster Shorter Catechism : Who is the redeemer of God’s elect (mankind).  They discuss the divinity of Jesus, hi...

What are the eternal consequences of our fallenness?  What is the miserable estate in which we live?  What does it mean to be separated from our creator?  What is hell and does it truly exist?  Does the love of God negate the idea of hell?  I hell necessary? On this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, the guys take on two of the questions from John Wesley’s Revision of the Westminster Shorter Catec...

What the difference between the sinful nature and sins committed?  In what way is our nature corrupted by sin?  What is original righteousness?  Is it possible to not sin?  What is the guilt of sin and how is it passed down?   In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, Jim, Brett, and Allen continue their discussion on sin by looking at questions 17, Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? an...

What is the scope of sin?  How deep and wide is its reach in humanity?  What is the consequence of Sin?  Were Adam and Eve real people or archetypes for all of humanity?  How are sin and the consequences of sin passed down from generation to generation? In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, Jim and Brett are joined by special guest (and pinch-hitter for Allen) Rev. Rebecca Duke-Barton, pastor...

What exactly was the sin that Adam and Eve committed when they ate the fruit from the forbidden tree?  Why was that fruit forbidden in the first place?  Who’s at fault for breaking God’s command?  What is God trying to hide from humanity in forbidding the knowledge of good and evil?   In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, the Brett, Jim, and Allen discuss question 15 of  John Wesley’s Revisio...

It’s Christmas time (and Advent) once again.  The hot chocolate is flowing, the movies are on, and the lights are twinkling brightly.  The question is does Christmas still matter? In this special Christmas (and Advent) episode of the Podechesis Podcast, the boys take a break from Wesley’s Revision of the Shorter Catechism to share some of their favorite Christmas memories, movies, songs, and foods...

What is Sin?  Why does sin exist?  Are we born with sinful natures or are we nurtured into sin?  What does it mean to break God’s law?  Are we naturally good?  What was humanity’s first taste of disobedience—pride or unbelief?  Can you have a right understanding of sin without a right understanding of grace?  How does Jesus fit into this discussion? In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, the B...

How did God specifically act toward humanity upon their creation?  What is the meaning of covenant and why is it important to understand the conditions upon which God entered into relationship with humanity?  Why was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil the one thing that was forbidden to eat from in the garden?  Are there conditions to God’s love for us? What should our response to God’s lo...

What happens when your favorite Wesleyan Theology podcast team does a livecast for Youtube and Facebook? Well Check it out here ! A HUGE shout out to our Podechumen community for sending in questions and making this first live show a success. We truly have the best community in the world. Once again, thank you the talented Andy Bowen of andybowen.com for his Halloween edition of the Podechesis the...

What is providence?  How does God act?  What is his handywork and how does a transcendent God also be an intimate God?  Is the world just ruled by fate or chance or is there something more?  And what about freewill?  Did God just create and then back off or is he an involved creator?  If God is in charge, are we truly free? In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, Brett, Jim, and Allen discuss q...

What does it mean that God created humanity?  Why is important that God created Adam out of the dust of the earth and Eve from Adam’s rib?  Why was it important for Adam to have a partner and what does that say about the role of close relationships and community in human existence?  And what is the deal with being created in the image of God? In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, Brett, Jim,...

What does it mean that God created all things?  What does it mean that God created out of nothing?  Can one believe in a creator God and in science?  Is there any real reason why one cannot hold to a biblical worldview and still believe in science?  Did God create all things in seven days or is something else going on in Genesis 1 and 2?   In this episode of The Podechesis Podcast, Brett, Jim, and...

What are the decrees of God?  Do we have any say in our relationship with God or are we predestined from before the time of creation for salvation or damnation?  Also, who is John Wesley?  What is the Wesleyan way of doing theology and living the life of faith? Why is the Wesleyan way it important?  Are Calvinist and Wesleyans so different or is there more that unites us than divides? On this epis...