Food Trucks in Babylon

Is biblical inerrancy a modern invention or is it simply reading the Bible on its own terms? In this episode of Food Trucks, Todd and Andrew give a defense for inerrancy, the doctrine that the Bible is true in everything it affirms. They also discuss the differences between inerrancy and infallibility, whether English translations are reliable, and why we can trust we have the right books in our B...

Most of us want to change, but is it even possible? In this episode of Food Trucks in Babylon, Todd and Andrew discuss the idea of transformation in the Christian life. They contrast the difference between self-help books and the power of the gospel, which transforms us into new creations in Christ.

In this episode of Food Trucks in Babylon, Andrew Pack and Todd Miles offer a definition of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They explore the ongoing implications of this good news in a believer's life and examine potential pitfalls that might cause someone to lose sight of the cross of Christ. They discuss why the cross is central to the gospel, why preachers should never move beyond preaching the for...

Food Trucks kicks off a new season as Todd and Andrew explore the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement. Is this a "die for" issue for Christians? Or should it be a secondary issue? Todd and Andrew unpack the implications of the atonement as it relates to the character of God and the significance of the cross of Christ for believers.

Todd and Andrew welcome back Taylor Turkington to the podcast for a conversation about the necessity of equipping women for ministry. They think through why some complementarian pastors have been hesitant to encourage the women in their churches to get theological training, whether women are better than men at teaching women, and how the church can do a better job encouraging women to be theologic...

Todd welcomes Professor Bryan Warren to the podcast to talk about a model of Christian counseling that integrates both theology and psychology. They talk through the implications of holding up Scripture as the the Word of God while simultaneously learning from the insights of psychology to better understand people and the human condition.   Bryan is assistant professor of counseling at Western Sem...

Todd and Andrew discuss Andrew's upcoming book on a theology of response. Andrew unpacks how the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 and Paul's "therefore" in Romans 12 help us see how the Christian life ought to be framed as a response to all that God has done for us in Christ.

Todd sits down with Professor Stephen Stallard, PhD as they reflect upon their experiences preaching through Galatians in their churches this year. They explore the gospel clarity found in Galatians as well as some of the challenges they faced preaching through the book verse by verse.   Stephen is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry at and the director of the MDiv at Western Seminary. He is...

Roni Sasaki is a former Paralympic gold medalist, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She joins Todd and Andrew to share what it was like to be born with one leg, how she fulfilled her dream of becoming an Olympic athlete, and why her disability testifies to the goodness of God. Roni is a Western Seminary student studying in the MA in Biblical and Theological Studies program. 

Why would a good and powerful God allow evil and suffering? Todd welcomes Gerry Breshears to the podcast to talk about the problem of evil. Gerry summarizes the most common Christian responses to the problem of evil and explains how focusing on the incarnation can be a helpful place to start.  Gerry has been a professor of theology at Western Seminary since 1980. He considers himself a "pastor's p...

What do we do when our faith begins to feel stale? Daniel K. Eng, PhD, sits down with Todd to talk about what it looks like to grow spiritually at different stages of the Christian life. He explains that while many churches understand how to meet the needs of new believers, they often struggle to help mature believers continue in sanctification. He lays forth some biblical principles for how pasto...

Todd and Andrew sit down for a conversation with Chuck Conniry, Western Seminary's 12th president. Chuck talks about coming to faith, the impact of theological education on his own ministry as a pastor, and his passion for seeing seminaries advance the mission of the local church. Conniry is Western's 12th president and has worked in theological education for three decades. Before that, he spent 1...

Taylor Turkington joins the podcast to talk about how Habakkuk helps us prayerfully respond to the brokenness of this world with lament and hope. What does real faith in the middle of chaos, wrongdoing, and suffering really look like?   Taylor is the director of BibleEquipping, a Bible teacher and a Western grad.

Todd and Andrew sit down with Jeremiah Peck, PhD, Assistant Professor of Counseling at Western Seminary, to talk about pastoral burnout. What is pastoral burnout? Why does it seem to be on the rise in the church? Why is it so difficult to prevent and what can the church do about it? Jeremiah discusses his research on this topic and provides his perspective as both a counselor and a pastor. In addi...

Ryan and Todd sit down with pastor and author Champ Thornton to talk about how families can follow Jesus together, especially during the Christmas season. Champ recently wrote the book Wonders of His Love , an advent devotional for families based on Isaiah’s prophecies. He is the author of several children’s books and is the associate pastor at Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware. Mentione...

Are churches equipped to make deep disciples of Jesus? Todd and Ryan sit down with J.T. English to discuss why the local church needs to prioritize discipling followers of Jesus in more than just a superficial manner. J.T. is the pastor of Storyline Fellowship in Arvada, Colo., and the author of Deep Discipleship: How the Church Can Make Whole Disciples of Jesus (B&H, 2020). Mentioned Resources De...

What do we do when we encounter parts of the Bible that make us uncomfortable? Is the God of the Bible truly anti-women, anti-science, pro-violence and pro-slavery? Is the “Good Book” really good? Todd and Ryan sit down with Dan Kimball, author of “How (Not) to Read the Bible,” to discuss why the way we read and interpret our Bibles is so important in a post-Christian age. Dan is a pastor at Vinta...

Todd and Ryan sit down with pastor Michael Lawrence to talk about how pastors should respond to mental illness in the church. Michael shares from his own personal experience as a parent whose child was diagnosed with a serious mental illness a number of years ago. He talks about how the gospel relates to mental health, the dangers of seeing mental health as only a physical or spiritual issue, and...

Todd and Ryan sit down with hip-hop artist Shai Linne to discuss how the gospel can accomplish racial reconciliation. Shai is the author of The New Reformation: Finding Hope in the Fight for Ethnic Unity . In addition to releasing numerous Christian hip-hop albums, Shai cofounded Risen Christ Fellowship, an inner-city church in his hometown of Philadelphia.  Mentioned resources: The New Reformatio...

Timothy Paul Jones and Garrick Bailey from Three Chords and the Truth Podcast team up with Ryan and Todd to answer questions about apologetics and the impassibility of God. They also discuss questions as to how ethics should shape 21st century apologetics, what instrument Herman Bavinck would have played if he’d joined his fellow Dutchmen Eddie and Alex Van Halen in a band, and how Pearl Jam can h...

Do you find it challenging to apply the book of Proverbs to your life? Dominick Hernández joins Todd and Ryan to discuss how the wisdom in Proverbs is indeed intended to help us with practical matters in our lives. Hernandez is assistant professor of Old Testament Interpretation and the Director of the Online Hispanic Program at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also an ordained pas...

How should Christians think about the afterlife? What difference does the doctrines of heaven and hell make in Christianity? Randy Alcorn joins the show to talk with Ryan and Todd about writing, heaven, and what Christian living has to do with the eternal promise of the New Heavens and the New Earth. Mentioned Resources Randy Alcorn, Heaven , The Grace and Truth Paradox , Eternity , The Apostle ,...

Ryan & Todd continue their conversation about spiritual abuse with Ken Garrett.

In this two-part episode, pastor and author Ken Garrett talks to Ryan and Todd about his faith journey and his encounter with spiritual abuse in the church. Ken's book, In the House of Friends, is written for survivors of abusive churches, their families and friends, and all who want to understand spiritual abuse and help those who have been abused.

Aaron Menikoff joins Ryan and Todd to talk about his new book, Character Matters , and why character is critically important for pastors, both for their own spiritual lives and those of the people they lead.   Mentioned Resources Aaron Menikoff, Character Matters