Culture Matters

This episode is pretty special. Adam is joined by his mom to talk about spiritual motherhood. Spiritual Mothering is a posture of life more than a thing you do. Being in the word and recognizing that we get to spend time with God and spend time with others, spiritually mothering and discipling. It’s a beautiful GET TO, not a have to. When we’re living in a way that’s more about Jesus and less abou...

In this episode, Chelsea and Ty unpack the nature of friendship—how it shifts across seasons of life, what it means to be a true friend as Christians, and how our modern, mediated world complicates our longings for connection. They explore the tension between real embodied friendships and virtual/para-social ones, how change (in jobs, marriage, location, spiritual growth) reshapes who “counts” as...

In this episode, Adam sits down with pastor and author John Van Sloten to discuss his provoking and worship-inspiring book, God Speaks Science . Together, they explore how science can be a spiritual discipline and a form of divine revelation—right alongside scripture. From the grandeur of supernovas to the mystery of the giant squid, Van Sloten invites us into a world where the natural order shout...

In this episode, we sit down with worship leader and songwriter John Marc Kohl , for a vulnerable conversation about the heart of creativity. We talk about what it means to create honest art, the challenge of sharing our gifts, and the tension between inspiration and excellence. John Marc shares how his songwriting journey started with his mom’s choir notes and led to songs that took years to rele...

We’re back! In this season kickoff, we share a few updates—Elizabeth is stepping back from regular hosting to focus on her own excellent work (peek “Starting Place” podcast), Ty joins us from Virginia where he’s serving with The Hill Church, and Chelsea moves from behind-the-scenes into more on-mic hosting. Then we do what we love: trace the intersections of faith and culture through the summer’s...

This is the last episode of this season and the crew gathers in studio to reflect on their favorite episodes, share personal highlights, and unpack the cultural moments that shaped their year. From Whitney Pipkin’s profound conversation on dying, to the metaphor-rich teaching of Jonathan Pennington, the team reminisces on how these guests left lasting impressions. They also dive into what they’ve...

In this episode, host Adam is joined by Katherine Bahcall, licensed Professional Counselor and a leader in recovery and care ministries, to discuss the often difficult but essential topic of conflict. Together, they explore how Christians can navigate conflict both personally and professionally, drawing from biblical wisdom and counseling experience. From conflict avoidance to the role of justice...

In this moving episode, Adam and Ty sit down with artist Dawn Waters Baker to explore the sacred intersection of art, suffering, beauty, and faith. From her childhood in the Philippines to her residencies in national parks and her deep love for scripture, Dawn shares how her art is shaped by landscapes, personal grief, and the pursuit of God’s presence in both pain and beauty. This is a rich conve...

In this thoughtful and practical continuation of their conversation on gender relationships in the church, Ty, Liz, and Adam explore how men and women can engage each other as family within the body of Christ. Building on the theological foundation from a previous episode, they delve into real-world dynamics, boundaries, and the complexity of navigating cross-gender relationships with wisdom, love...

In this episode of Culture Matters , Ty and Taryn sit down with Dr. Jonathan Pennington to explore how metaphors do far more than decorate our teaching—they shape our understanding of reality itself. Drawing from philosophy, neuroscience, theology, and personal experience, Dr. Pennington helps us see how metaphors are central to how we communicate truth, especially in Christian teaching, counselin...

In this deeply moving episode, Adam and Ty sit down with Pastor Ray Ortlund to discuss his latest book, Good News at Rock Bottom: Finding God When Pain Goes Deep and Hope Seems Lost . Ray shares powerful reflections on how suffering, betrayal, and loss can become sacred spaces where God draws near. The conversation explores the nature of grace, the reality of rock bottom, and how true healing begi...

In this conversation, Adam and Elizabeth sit down with writer and journalist Whitney Pipkin to talk about her book We Shall All Be Changed . Whitney shares how walking with her mother through a 22-year cancer journey—and ultimately her final days—reshaped her theology of death, grief, caregiving, and hope. Together, they explore the cultural discomfort around death, how Christians can approach suf...

In this episode, we sit down with counselor Hillary Marvin to unpack how our past—especially our family of origin—shapes the way we relate to God, ourselves, and others. Hillary walks us through the “old house vs. new house” analogy, showing how the gospel reshapes our values, our emotional patterns, and our relationships. We talk about how childhood experiences affect our parenting, our friendshi...

This episode, we’re out of our usual space and recording from Neighbor Books in McKinney, Texas. We sit down with owner Joey Honesco to talk about place, calling, and the quiet power of presence. Joey shares his journey of opening a bookstore rooted in community—a “third place” where people connect over books, coffee, and shared rhythms. We reflect on how God uses proximity and intentionality to s...

What does leadership look like when no one’s watching? In this episode, we sit down with Alan Hooton — educator, elder, and faithful presence at Citizens Church — to explore leadership shaped not by titles or accolades, but by consistency and character. After 19 years in the same classroom, Alan invites us to see leadership as something slow, relational, and deeply rooted in presence. We talk abou...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jenna Hernandez from Citizens Church, who shares how her work in college ministry and prison discipleship is all about meeting people right where they are. Whether she’s leading a Bible study with students at UT Dallas or walking with women behind bars, Jenna brings a grounded, relational approach to spiritual formation—one that’s shaped by presence, patience, and...

In this episode, Caroline Smiley joins us to explore God’s vision for friendship and community. How do relationships shift across seasons of life? What does it mean to pursue Christlike friendships in a culture shaped by individualism? We dive into the biblical foundation of community, from Genesis to today, and how Scripture challenges our approach to relationships. We unpack how deep friendships...

Why do spiritual disciplines matter if we’re saved by grace through faith? If salvation isn’t based on works, why do prayer, fasting, and Scripture reading still hold weight? Today, we’re diving into what Paul says in Romans about how salvation isn’t just about avoiding hell—it’s about transformation. Spiritual disciplines aren’t about earning God’s favor; they’re about stepping into the fullness...

We are kicking off this special mini-series on Spiritual Formation by sitting down with Robyn, a longtime friend and valued member of our church community. At 58, Robyn embodies what it means to be a lifelong learner, embracing the highs and lows of life with faith and humility. She shares her story through the lens of seasons—how adoption, loss, and her relationship with the church have all shape...

We’re kicking off a fresh season of Culture Matters with a new approach—less reaction, more intentional conversation. Inspired by Andy Crouch’s vision of Christians as curators, we’re breaking up the season into six to eight-week mini-series that dig deep into faith, culture, and creativity. Along the way, we’ll explore key cultural moments, theological insights, and the stories shaping our world....

Amidst the holiday hustle, have you ever considered the impact of pausing to reflect? Advent offers us this sacred pause, inviting us to step away from commercial chaos and embrace the profound of Advent and Christmas. This episode guides you through the themes of Advent—hope, love, joy, and peace—showing how they anchor us during this season. Scripture from Isaiah, Luke, Matthew and James illumin...

Advent reminds us of the hope in a light in the darkness. In this episode, our friends Bobby and Taryn share their story of how God upheld them through joys and suffering and through seasons of lament surrounding the holidays.  Topics Discussed Encountering God in Suffering The Power of Christian Lament Trusting God in Community Embracing Joy and Sorrow in Advent Finding Grace in Suffering Recomme...

In this episode we discuss some of the bigger headlines in the news lately as well as take a look back at the year to review some of our favorite, books, music and movies. Recommended and Mentioned Resources Our previous episodes on Christian Nationalism: Part 1 Part 2 Books: Flood and Fury Hip-Hop Is History Do Fathers Matter? Nuclear War on Audible The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Forev...

Join us on Culture Matters as we explore the epistle of Galatians with Elizabeth, who shares insights from her new study, Live Free. Elizabeth delves into her admiration for Paul's engagement with culture, highlighting his skillful interaction with Greek philosophers and his adept handling of false teachings by the Judaizers. We discuss how Paul's message remains relevant today, addressing...

Join us on Culture Matters as we explore the role of gratitude and its significance. We discuss how the human experience is often a mixture of gratitude and sorrow, how gratitude can offer contentment in the present moment and how it can shift our perspective to appreciate even small blessings. Topics Discussed  Choosing Gratitude for Joyful Living Navigating Gratitude and Sorrow in Life Finding G...