Kitchen Table Theology

When you think about what you believe as a Christian… where did those beliefs come from? For many, the trail leads back to the apostles, the earliest followers of Jesus, and church leaders like Papias of Hierapolis. Papias was connected to the Apostle John, knew Polycarp, and helped preserve early Christian teaching during the generation after the apostles. Though most of his writings have been lo...

The Epistle of Barnabas is one of the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament, offering a glimpse into how believers shortly after the apostolic age understood Scripture, Jesus, and the Christian life. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff and Tiffany explore what the Epistle of Barnabas is and why the early church valued this document without recognizing it as Scrip...

Polycarp lived at a time when the early church was facing pressure from Rome, false teaching from within, and the growing challenge of preserving the message handed down by the apostles.  In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff and Tiffany look at the life of Polycarp of Smyrna, one of the Apostolic Fathers and a direct link to the Apostle John. They discuss his role as bishop of Sm...

Irenaeus lived at a time when the church was being attacked from the outside by persecution and from the inside by false teaching. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology , Pastor Jeff and Tiffany look at the life of Irenaeus, one of the early church’s most important defenders of the gospel. Connected closely to the apostles through Polycarp, Irenaeus helped preserve apostolic teaching, confront...

Ignatius of Antioch lived so close to the time of the apostles that his life serves as a bridge between the New Testament church and the generations that followed. In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston introduce listeners to Ignatius of Antioch, an early church leader whose courage, writings, and final journey to Rome continue to challenge and encourage Christians today. Ignatius...

Long before church history became filled with councils, creeds, and formal traditions, early Christians were already learning how to live as faithful followers of Jesus. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff Cranston and Tiffany introduce the Didache, one of the most important early Christian writings outside the New Testament. They explain how this ancient document helps us under...

284 Intro Historical Theology: Why Church History Matters After the apostles died, the church did not disappear. It continued to preserve, defend, and pass down the truth once delivered to the saints.  In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff Cranston and Tiffany continue their historical theology series by introducing Clement of Rome, one of the earliest Apostolic Fathers. They expl...

Historical theology is not history for history’s sake. It helps Christians ask an important question: Do we believe the same truths the church has always believed, or have we created something new? In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff Cranston introduces historical theology and explains why it matters for every follower of Jesus. Historical theology traces how believers throughou...

When does obeying the government become disobeying God? In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff Cranston and Tiffany continue their series on Christians and civil government by addressing the tension between submission to authority and ultimate allegiance to God. Using Romans 13:1-7 and Acts 5, they explain why Christians are generally called to obey civil laws, respect governing au...

How should Christians honor the government without giving it blind approval? The Bible gives clear direction for how to live faithfully as citizens while keeping our highest allegiance to God. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff and Tiffany continue their conversation on Christians and civil government by walking through five biblical responsibilities believers have toward earth...

What does it mean to live faithfully under earthly authority while belonging first to the kingdom of God? For many Christians, government can feel confusing, frustrating, or deeply divisive, yet Scripture speaks clearly about the believer’s responsibility in the world. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Jeff and Tiffany begin a new series on Christians and government by exploring why civil...

What does it mean for God to prune the people He loves, and how do you respond when spiritual growth feels uncomfortable? In John 15, Jesus describes the Father as the vinedresser, actively tending the branches so they can bear more fruit, but that process is often deeper and more personal than we expect. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Jeff and Tiffany continue their conversation on Je...

Jesus is Risen! Happy Easter, Kitchen Table Theology, family.  We're taking a break for Easter Sunday to reflect, celebrate and spend time at church with our family. If you don't have a church home, we invite you to join us at Low Country Community Church. You can watch the Easter service with Pastor Jeff online: https://www.lowcountrycc.org Next week, we'll continue our Practical T...

How do you stay close to Jesus when life feels full, distracted, and fast-moving? Abiding in Christ can sound simple, but living it out daily is often harder than it seems. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Jeff and Tiffany continue their conversation on Jesus’ teaching about the vine and the branches by focusing on two practical responsibilities of the branch: communicating with Jesus an...

What does it really mean to surrender to the leadership of Jesus? In a culture that celebrates independence and self-direction, surrender can sound like weakness or loss. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Jeff and Tiffany explore what it means to live under the leadership of Christ. Building on Jesus’ teaching about the vine and the branches, they explain why the Christian life is not sel...

If spiritual fruit matters so much, where does it actually come from? Is it produced by discipline, effort, or trying harder to live like Jesus? In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Jeff and Tiffany begin a new conversation about fruitfulness by walking through Jesus’ teaching in John 15. Using the picture of the vine, the branches, and the vine dresser, they explain how spiritual fruit is p...

Jesus once told His disciples that those who believe in Him would do the works He did and even “greater works.” For many Christians, that statement raises immediate questions. How could anyone do greater works than the Son of God who raised the dead and walked on water? In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Jeff and Tiffany walk through John 14:12 and unpack what Jesus meant during the Upper...

Jesus said that true worshipers worship the Father in spirit and in truth. It sounds simple, but it reshapes how we think about worship entirely. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff and Tiffany walk through Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4 and explain what worship in spirit and truth actually means. Worship is not about geography, atmosphere, or emotional i...

Worship is not just about what we do. It’s about how we come before God. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff Cranston and Tiffany continue the Practical Theology series by exploring four essential attitudes that shape true worship: joy, wholeheartedness, faith, and reverent fear. Many believers attend church, sing the songs, and participate in the service. Yet Scripture makes cl...

Jesus did not call people to admire Him. He called them to follow Him. In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff Cranston and Tiffany walk through three clear marks of true discipleship. Many believers know the right words, attend church consistently, and affirm sound doctrine. Yet the deeper question remains: Are we truly living as followers of Christ? This conversation examines what...

How well do you really understand what Christ accomplished on the cross? In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston put the doctrine of the atonement to the test through a true-or-false theology quiz. Each question explores core biblical truths about sin, God’s wrath, substitution, propitiation, and why Christ’s death was absolutely necessary for salvation. ...

Why do some believers fall away from the faith even when starting strong? In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Tiffany and Pastor Jeff walk through Luke 14:28–35, where Jesus calls His followers to stop, think, and count the cost of discipleship. Jesus makes clear that following Him is not a casual decision but a lifelong commitment. We discuss why public identification with Christ carries r...

Jesus didn’t call people to simply believe in Him, but to follow Him. Many believers know the language of faith, attend church regularly, and affirm sound doctrine, yet still wonder whether they are truly living as Christ’s disciples.  In this episode, Pastor Jeff Cranston and Tiffany examine three marks of true discipleship: remaining in God’s Word, bearing spiritual fruit, and loving others as C...

Many people followed Jesus. Not all of them were truly His disciples. In this episode, Pastor Jeff Cranston and Tiffany Coker walk through John chapter 6 to examine one of the most challenging truths of the Christian life: discipleship is more than separation from sin. It requires active devotion to Christ. As many followers walked away from Jesus when His teaching became difficult, Scripture reve...

What does it mean for Christians to be “set apart”?  Biblical separation is often misunderstood as isolation or spiritual superiority, but Scripture presents it as a call to holiness, faithfulness, and love for Christ. In this episode, Pastor Jeff and Tiffany continue their Practical Theology series by walking through four specific ways Scripture calls believers to live distinct lives while remain...