Candid Conversations with Dr. Jonathan Youssef

Should Christians throw out the Old Testament, claiming its teaching is no longer relevant because of Christ's finished work on the cross? What exactly changed after the Crucifixion and Resurrection? Did God change? Is He a God of wrath or mercy? Join Jonathan as he shares the importance of the Bible as a whole and the cohesive, overarching narrative that spans both the Old and New Testaments. He...

Are the end times upon us? That's the question pastor and author Dr. Michael Youssef is asking in his latest book, "Is The End Near?: What Jesus Told Us About the Last Days."   With the ever-streaming flow of chaotic events, it can feel like the end is upon us.  However, we don’t have to rely on speculation, we can look to Jesus’ own words.  Join Jonathan and Dr. Youssef as they dive into the Word...

"You are enough!"  "God wants you to be happy."  "Be the boss of you!" These popular quotes sound encouraging and empowering, but are they really Biblical? Jonathan welcomes Alisa Childers back to Candid Conversations to discuss the infiltration of cultural lies into Christian circles. Together, they unpack the importance of holding every thought captive to the knowledge of God where true life and...

You might remember TLC’s popular hit TV show 19 Kids and Counting . The show followed the Duggar family, devout Christians who offered 2.3 million viewers a glimpse into life with 19 children. Each episode chronicled the joys and challenges of raising children—from toddlers to teens and from courting to marriage.   On this episode of Candid, Jonathan welcomes Jeremy and Jinger Vuolo. They share ab...

When the surrounding culture or our feelings contradict the Truth of God, what should we believe is true?   In today’s Candid episode, Jonathan Youssef reflects on why it is vitally important to consider life's most difficult questions through the lens of Scripture - even when the answers aren't always what we want to hear. To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit htt...

The Mormon faith seems shrouded in mystery. Is it another branch of Christianity? Do we believe the same things about Jesus? If not, where do we differ? Join Jonathan as he sits down with Dave Hubbard for a deeper dive into the theological differences of Christianity and Mormonism. Dave grew up as a Christian in California but was an All-American collegiate athlete at Brigham Young University. He...

Fall is just around the corner. Leaves are changing. Grills are being fired up. That can only mean one thing. It’s time for football and we can't wait! In July of 2021, Jonathan sat down with Coach Mark Richt for a candid conversation about faith and football. With football season kicking off, we thought it was the perfect time to re-air this fan favorite episode. Coach Richt played football at Mi...

As we walk closely with Christ, there will be times when we have to choose between the calling God has put on our lives and something else like a relationship, a friendship, family, or our career choices.  Can you imagine being at the top of an illustrious career when God asks you to leave it for vocational ministry? When most people would revel in the success and stay to move up to their dream po...

What does it take to forgive someone who has caused us deep pain? And how essential is it to seek forgiveness when we've wronged others? In this special reairing of Candid, Jonathan Youssef examines the parable of the unmerciful servant from Matthew 18, shedding light on the interconnectedness of granting and seeking forgiveness. Listen in for valuable insight. We'd love to hear from you if you ha...

Fall is right around the corner and students are back in school. Many are heading to College for the first time. These students will be faced with so much more than the next step in their education. They will navigate new relationships, new social experiences, and a new found freedom that can be a challenge to the spiritual lives of many students. College is not known for encouraging students to g...

Raising children to know, love, and follow Christ in a culture hostile to the Gospel is a daily challenge. How do we follow Christ as a family and help lead our children grow into godly men and women?   Join Jonathan as he offers insight into Biblical parenthood. In this episode of Candid Conversations, Jonathan offers five Biblical keys to following Christ as a family. Please listen to and then s...

She was wrongly accused, betrayed by her family, wounded by deep loss, and left with no choice but to leave her entire life behind. Still, she forgave... and the Lord brought incredible redemption out of the most painful season of her life. Today's guest had every reason in the world not to forgive or forget the profound abuse she endured. However, she has learned the important truth that forgiven...

The population of students with special needs is growing and accounts for close to 15 percent of the total student population. Special needs are medical, mental, or psychological disabilities that require special care. Unfortunately, people with special needs can be overlooked in the church because we don't know how to serve them well.  In today's Candid Conversation, Bruce and Rachel Lowe join Jo...

Is abortion a stepping stone to a better life for women? How does an abortion impact the daily life of a woman? Today's Candid Conversations guest, Bree Tuttle, shares an intimate look at life in the aftermath of her abortion and the healing she has received through a vibrant relationship with Christ. Bree joins Jonathan Youssef to share the truth she wishes she'd known before her abortion.   Bree...

Red, white, and blue. The American Dream. Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, coming from nothing, working hard, and making something of yourself. The American Dream is beautiful. However, is there an even greater gift than American freedom?  Today, Jonathan shares a reflection on the greater gift for believers and what it means for Christians to be "doubly free." We are free by nature of our...

You’re hearing about it on the news and in your social media feeds: Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey have officially been overruled through the Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. It seems like half the nation is rejoicing… and half the nation is shocked and outraged. But what really happens next? What are the legal implications of this decision? Ther...

In the past few years, we have seen the rise of the public debate around gender and transgender. What makes a man a man and a woman a woman? Is this a new debate or an ancient one?   Jonathan Youssef welcomes Claire and Rob Smith from Sydney, Australia to Candid Conversations. Rob Smith lectures in theology, ethics, and music ministry at Sydney Missionary & Bible College. He also serves as the Ass...

In the past few weeks, we’ve heard news of a possible overturn of Roe v. Wade as the abortion debate continues. How should we think about abortion biblically, philosophically, and ethically?  How does the Biblical perspective of family contrast the Western perspective and how does this impact our thoughts on this issue? Join Jonathan as he welcomes Dr. Bill Davis back to Candid Conversations to di...

This month throughout the U.S. many will celebrate Pride month.  In today's episode we look at God's perspective on human sexuality.  You may have heard of the term gender dysphoria. If you haven’t, it is the psychological distress endured by a person because of a perceived mismatch between a person’s biological sex and their gender identity.   What causes gender dysphoria and what lies behind the...

In light of all of the tragic events over the past weeks and months, Jonathan shares with us a heartfelt and Scripture-led response to tragedy.  Tragedy strikes. Grief and sorrow follow. We want to know why it happened, who is to blame, and all the details of what happened.  Is that the right way to respond? How did Jesus respond to tragedy? What can we learn from Him? Join Jonathan Youssef as he...

Modern culture rarely agrees with the Biblical Christian worldview. As Christians, how do we engage with the culture around us? Jobs, politics, raising children, the entertainment industry, and the news challenge us daily. Should we ignore and isolate away from the culture or do we engage with it?  To what degree should we engage? And, if necessary, how do we confront the culture? Join Jonathan as...

It feels like we are on a financial roller coaster. Inflation is impacting much of the world. When the prices on daily necessities shoot up, fear is often our natural response. Today's episode of Candid Conversations will help you fight against the fear that an uncertain economic future can trigger.  Jonathan welcomes financial advisor, David Nicholas, back to the podcast to help us navigate tumul...

Can you trust the Bible? It is an important question to answer when considering the Christian faith. Is there evidence to support the validity of Scripture or does it need to be accepted on blind faith? In this episode of Candid, Jonathan Youssef shares practical evidence for the validity of Scripture and he also unpacks the reason why so many choose to deny its Truth. Listen and learn why you can...

Addiction. It's far more common than you think and the statistics are staggering. In fact, 45 million people in America are directly impacted by addiction. 1 in 3 households is exposed to, suffering from, or otherwise impacted by addiction. Are you struggling with being addicted to something, but you aren't sure how to get help? Maybe you have a loved one who is suffering from addiction and you wa...

Would you consider yourself a disciple of Christ? What is discipleship and how do we pursue it? Join Jonathan for this episode of Candid as he examines these questions and reveals the elements necessary to pursue a life of Christian discipleship.  To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod Instagram: ht...