Mortification of Spin

It seems that reading comprehension difficulties are on the rise. That might be due partly to the great technological advancement of social media, and the ability one has these days to communicate, and discuss profound ideas pertaining to life and death, in just 280 characters. Mortification of Spin understands the issue, and steps up to the plate to help those with difficulty comprehending Carl’s...

No Going Back! Aimee finally gets an ally! Interestingly enough, she’s the only other woman ever to receive the esteemed title of “honorary guy” on the podcast: author and speaker, Nancy Guthrie. Nancy joins the crew today to dismiss some misconceptions about the Garden of Eden, and help us with a biblical understanding of our eternal destination. Are believers on their way back to Eden--back to t...

It’s that time of the year again when our dear, innocent children are initiated in Satanism through the practice of trick or treating. Well…OK, not really! But indeed, some questions come back around every year, and opinions about Halloween are diverse enough to create a squabble between Carl, Todd, and Aimee. Halloween, or Fall Festival? “Trick or treat,” “trunk or treat,” or “Reformation celebra...

Still in the boonies of western Pennsylvania, the crew receives a visit from Fr. Thomas Weinandy. He is a Franciscan Capuchin priest, systematic theologian, long-time professor, and author of many books. In his latest--Jesus Becoming Jesus: A Theological Interpretation of the Synoptic Gospels--Thomas focuses on the doctrine and theology of the synoptic gospels, zooming in closely on the acts of Je...

The crew is running for the hills…of western Pennsylvania! And, it’s in the newly renovated bunker that Aimee is training the guys on trendy teenage lingo. Meanwhile, listeners are tweeting Byrd with some good questions about visual versus auditory presentations of the gospel, bad songs in college chapel, and the limitations of social media interactions. Can we really engage in constructive discus...

A Presbyterian and a Lutheran walk into a bar, and…they write a book together! We’re pleased to feature the one and only Carl Trueman, introducing his latest tome, Between Wittenberg and Geneva, co-authored with renowned Lutheran scholar Robert Kolb. As the two record their written correspondence, they find much upon which to agree—though the differences between the Reformed and Lutheran tradition...

The following program contains clips of explicit Presbyterianism. Baptist discretion advised! The crew meets at a new underground bunker, but the banter among the three amigos is as old as… well, their very first episode together! But, not everything is fun and games down under, and the topic du jour is worth serious consideration. Whether you’re a paedo or credo parent, the question is: How do we...

After Carl and Todd try to steal the spotlight, Aimee finally gets to introduce our guest. Colleen McFadden is Director of Women’s Workshops for the Charles Simeon Trust. She’s happy to share how Simeon Trust started, what sparked the need to begin women’s workshops, and how those workshops help women teach the Bible expositionally as they serve their local churches and support their leadership. W...

While Todd is busy attending meetings about the doughnut ministry program at his church, the darling Cruella De Vil is honored to fill in. And the topic is as hot as the oil in that doughnut fryer: Would a church’s basket weaving class somehow further the proclamation of the Gospel? Sometimes, the answer is just…sometimes. So, what are the purposes of church programs, and whom should they serve? A...

What is a definitive standard for Biblical interpretation? Our guest is Dr. Craig Carter. He’s professor of theology at Tyndale University College and Seminary, and his most recent book--Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition: Recovering the Genius of Premodern Exegesis-- is a robust defense of bible interpretation grounded in the Trinitarian theology of the Nicene tradition. Dr. Carter w...

The crew weighs in on the pastoral care of those who struggle with sin associated with homosexual desires. How can elders and leaders of the church help these brothers and sisters walk in holiness? One way is to understand how society defines sexual orientation and identity. First and foremost, there must be clarity where the Bible is clear. Then, some hard work must be done to define the nuanced...

The second century of the church hasn’t received much attention from historians, as it lacked what many would call “remarkable developments.” Michael Kruger disagrees. In his recent book, Christianity at the Crossroads, the RTS president fills in the gaps on how the challenges faced, decisions made, and directions taken by second century Christians were essential to the growth and future of the yo...

Money can be a pretty sensitive topic for pastors to address, so there’s often a temptation to avoid the subject altogether. However, the needs of a church must be clearly communicated to its congregants. So, what principles should be followed? How much should members give—a tithe? What if someone is unemployed, or going through financial difficulty? Can the financial offering be replaced with ser...

The team sits down for coffee with Tim and Jonelle Frost. Tim is an associate pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, VA, which Carl refers to as “Todd’s megachurch!”Tim and wife Jonelle talk openly about the initial shock and all-consuming journey of raising a child with Down’s Syndrome. The couple recounts their struggle with Declan’s health issues, their physical and emotional e...

It’s group therapy in the bunker. The crew is feeling blue, and the only cure at this moment is to get together and discuss their gloominess. Depression and anxiety are real issues. But is depression a sin? Saints from Biblical times to today have experienced discouragement and depression. What can we learn from them? Join the meeting and find out how to minister to those who are struggling with t...

What does the Supreme Court ruling on the Masterpiece Cakeshop signify for religious freedom from the conservative perspective? Should the decision be celebrated or not quite yet? The crew welcomes Dr. Matthew Franck to shed some insight on this case and to answer a few other questions. He’s Director of the William E. and Carol G. Simon Center on Religion and the Constitution and author of a vast...

The light of the sun can be blinding, but there is a light that is even brighter, and it knocked Paul off his feet on the road to Damascus.  This week on No Falling Word,  we're continuing our study of Acts Chapter 26, as Paul is brought before King Agrippa, and that bright shining light will be a topic of their conversation.

The crew is stoked that Daniel Hyde has agreed to take them on dawn patrol to teach them some rad surf moves. After multiple failed attempts to simply keep the bennys on deck, they take a break to talk about Danny’s favorite hair gel and his book, In Living Color: Images of Christ and the Means of Grace, a timeless take on the Second Commandment. How has the Second Commandment been applied histori...

The Apostle Paul was a man with a plan.  He had a goal and everything he did was aimed at that purpose.  But what happens when your best-laid plans run amuck?  Today on No Falling Word, Liam Goligher will be looking at Acts Chapters 26.   Paul’s plans are sidelined by prison as he waits on the Roman government to decide his fate.  Join us as we discover that even down time has its purpose.

Our topic du jour is considered from both the housewife and the pastors’ perspectives. The trend of dividing congregations by age groups and removing children from corporate worship started a few decades ago, and it has shaped the practice of many churches to this day. But is this trend a biblical model? What are the benefits of having our children present in the corporate worship? The crew tell u...

Reports of sexual abuse are now commonplace in the media and those claims originate in diverse places, from Hollywood to the sacred confines of the neighborhood church. Our compassionate crew welcomes Thomas Crumplar. He’s a soft-spoken OPC elder who turns tenacious attorney when defending victims of sexual abuse. Tom has prosecuted and won cases against powerful individuals and institutions, incl...

The three amigos gather for Carl’s send-off, as he’s about to move west. Before Carl departs, Aimee offers some helpful tips on how to make new friends. In fact, she has recently written Why Can’t We Be Friends? Aimee’s latest opus addresses friendship between the sexes from a biblical worldview. The intrepid trio discusses the Pence Rule, biblical anthropology, sibling relationships in light of e...

Insuppressible Intelligent DesignDouglas Axe is invited to the bunker. He’s the author of Undeniable, and the director of the Biologic Institute in Seattle. Alongside Gabe Fluhrer and Derek Thomas, Douglas will speak at Insuppressible: Glory, Gospel, and the Design of Life, a conference of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and the Pensacola Theological Institute happening July 27-29 in Pensa...

Terry Johnson shows up at the Spin's "totally awesome" worship band practice. Terry is the pastor of Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah and has written Worshipping with Calvin: Recovering the Reformed Ministry and Worship of Reformed Protestantism. The crew turns down the instruments, shuts off the spotlights and smoke machine, and listens intently as Terry makes the connection between th...

In ancient Greece, paideia was a rich educational experience that compelled students to broader comprehension and deeper discussion. Today, the Paideia Center offers a fresh and informal means of theological discipleship. It’s just been launched by RTS/Orlando, so Michael Allen returns to fill us in.   How does the Center work? Where does it meet? What are the costs? Turn it on, turn it up, and do...