So We Speak

What do the opening chapters of Genesis teach us about what it means to be human? How do we live in this world after the fall? Brian Brock's book Joining Creation's Praise: A Theological Ethic of Creatureliness explores the creation story and traces the themes of home, worship, sin, and restoration. In the second part of this interview, Cole and Brian discuss the practical implications of our crea...

What do the opening chapters of Genesis teach us about what it means to be human? How do we live in this world after the fall? Brian Brock's book Joining Creation's Praise: A Theological Ethic of Creatureliness explores the creation story and traces the themes of home, worship, sin, and restoration. In the first part of this interview, Cole and Brian discuss the book and the biblical text.  Look f...

In the New Testament, Jerusalem reaches its peak. Herod constructs a temple that is one of the greatest buildings in the world. Through Jesus, God returns to Jerusalem, but he brings an unwelcome message. When the temple is destroyed, the nature of Jerusalem is changed forever, but it remains among the world's most important cities to this day. 

The city of Jerusalem didn't start with the Jews. It was an ancient city in Canaan, possibly the home of Melchizedek, and David had to conquer the city to make it his capital. Soon, it became the center of Israel and God's dwelling on earth. 

When we think of Oxford, we think of C.S. Lewis. During his 30 years at Magdalen College, Oxford, Lewis was profoundly shaped by his environment and relationships. In  C. S. Lewis's Oxford , Dr. Simon Horobin, who is also a fellow of Magdalen College, walks through Oxford with an eye for C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia, and more. 

Should we ask God for blessings? In Divine Blessing and the Fullness of Life in the Presence of God , Dr. Rusty Osborne traces the theme of blessing through the Bible, avoiding the perils of the prosperity and poverty gospels, to a true picture of the blessed life in the presence of God. 

Nearly 50 years after he penned the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "This was the object of the Declaration of Independence, not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of… it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion." What was he trying to express? Dr....

The city of Megiddo is more commonly known as the place of Armageddon, the final battle at the end of time. But there's a rich biblical history of Megiddo that may explain why it is mentioned in Revelation 16. Cole and Terry trace the story of this city from 3,000 BC through the end times, and discuss God's history of rescuing his people from overwhelming opposition. 

The Gospels are more than just historical accounts; they are invitations to come to know Jesus Christ. In a new book,  The Gospels: A Historical and Cultural Journey , Dr. Jerry Pattengale presents the life of Jesus through art, beauty, and the simple message of the Gospel. 

Sodom and Gomorrah are universally known for their wickedness and fiery destruction. Though they are destroyed in Genesis, they take on a symbolic life in the Bible as emblems of human wickedness. Where do they appear in the Bible? Do we know where these cities are today? Recent archaeology has revealed the astonishing fate of Sodom, just as it happened in the Bible. 

Jesus gathered his disciples for a final meal. As they shared the Passover supper, Jesus explained the new covenant he was making with them, one of his broken body and shed blood. In doing so, Jesus was going back to the first pages of the Bible and fulfilling a promise made long ago with Abraham. As we share this meal, we are heirs to the promises, experiencing all God accomplished through our Lo...

What happened between Good Friday and Easter Sunday? The Apostle's Creed says Jesus descended into Hell before he rose again. But what does that mean? How could this neglected doctrine help us better understand all that Jesus did for us during Holy Week?  For more, check out Matthew Emerson's book,  He Descended to the Dead ! 

Jericho is one of the oldest cities on earth, and it plays a key role in the Bible. Set along a major road leading into the Promised Land, Jericho has always been a border town on the edge of the desert. Joshua and the army of Israel conquered it by God's power in the Old Testament; Jesus and his disciples healed the blind and converted a tax collector in the New Testament. The story of Jericho is...

In the little town of Le Chambon, a pastor, a spy, a philosopher, and a refugee live under the Nazi threat. Shuttling Jews to safety, these heroes deal with loss, tragedy, triumph, and the experience of not knowing what’s next. In Mark Buchanan's new novel, What Is Left of the Night , enter the story of these heroes and grapple with the big ideas of the war, of God's love, and of the nature of vio...

Babel is the first major city in the Bible. On the plains on Shinar, people build a monument to themselves. They rebel against God and his commands. This city becomes Babylon, the paradigm for the way cities amplify human sinfulness. Babylon runs all the way through the Bible and shows us God's plan to redeem the world, even the cities. 

The Bible is full of cities, many of which still exist today. From beginning to end, cities play a big role in God's plan for the redemption of the world. In this series, we'll look at some of the most important cities in the Bible and trace their storylines to see God's redemptive work through history. 

More than three years after Jerusalem had been destroyed, the last group of rebels holed up in the fortress of Masada. More than a thousand feet above the plain, Masada was nearly impenetrable. Led by their leader, Eleazar ben Yair, this group of brave Jews would be remembered forever as freedom fighters, a symbol of the people of Israel. 

In 70 AD, the Romans had encircled Jerusalem. Inside, warring factions were striving for power and weakening the defense. In just a few months, the city and the temple would be destroyed. What caused this destruction, and could it have been prevented?

In this episode, Cole and Terry Feix delve into Byung-Chul Han's book, The Burnout Society, exploring the causes of burnout, anxiety, and depression in modern society. They discuss the shift from an immunological age to an achievement society, where the focus on productivity leads to self-exploitation and a crisis of gratification. The conversation highlights the challenges of finding true fulfill...

It's one of our favorite episodes of the year! Cole and Terry discuss their favorite books from 2025 and a few for next year as well.  Let us know your favorites from this year!   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Best Books of 2025 03:02 Reflections on Reading Habits 05:56 Exploring Hasidic Judaism 08:46 Navigating Technology in Parenting 12:06 Christian Perspectives on Parenting 15:06 Art, Bea...

The Romans had dealt with uprisings before; it was the cost of having an empire. But there was something different about 70 AD. The Jews had challenged the Romans too many times, and now the Roman legions, led by the future emperors Vespasian and Titus, surrounded the city. The story is one of heroism, intrigue, personality, and tragedy. Joining Cole on this episode is Dr. Barry Strauss, a Roman h...

Why is it so hard to navigate disagreements with other Christians? In his new book,  When Christians Disagree: Lessons from the Fractured Relationship of John Owen and Richard Baxter , Dr. Tim Cooper uses the historical differences between two giants of the faith, John Owen and Richard Baxter, as a lens for seeing our disagreements today. Through their story, Christians can better work through our...

In the early 60s AD, leadership changes and warring factions produced the rumblings of war. Jewish rebels closed the temple to foreigners, and the Romans extracted taxes from the temple treasury. The leaders who emerged would play decisive roles in the events to follow. Was this the point of no return? 

After the time of Jesus, the Jews revolted against the Romans. This series of wars and rebellions led to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. This monumental event has shaped the New Testament, the church, and the Jewish people to this day. How did it happen? In this first episode, Cole and Terry discuss the Jews in the time of Jesus, the political and religious factions, the rulers in Jerusale...

"A century ago, the most potent moral figure was Jesus Christ. Now it is Adolf Hitler." This bold statement from Dr. Alec Ryrie frames an exchange that has been made in our society. We know what we're against; what are we for?  In this episode, Cole speaks with Alec Ryrie about the moral landscape of the world today, the implications of what he calls the "age of Hitler," and how the church can res...