Off Stage

Greg and RD examine gambling in light of wisdom and the Gospel. Is Gambling a sin? How do we discern if it's wise to participate? Is it simply "all in good fun"? Greg references 1 Corinthians 6 throughout the podcast.  RD references Colossians 3:2   Greg references Hebrews 12:1-3 RD references the television show Mad Men .  RD reads Philippians 4:8:  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever i...

This week, Greg and RD dig into Jesus' uncanny ability to defy and subvert everyone's expectations and understandings of him. Greg references John 6 RD references a book by Jared C. Wilson, Your Jesus is Too Safe   RD references Colossians 1:15 RD reads from Matthew 11:1-6 For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org   You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offst...

Finding ourselves, creating ourselves and self-actualization are conversations our culture is hyper-focused on right now. But Jesus speaks of  denying ourselves as the way. What does this mean for us in 2021 as people and as the church? Greg and RD start by referring back to an earlier episode about Hot Takes. This is where you can find RD’s take on Aubrey’s.  Greg references an easier episode The...

Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Are ghosts real? Aren't there ghosts in the Bible? What about demons? Would RD dress up as Batman? This week, Greg and RD tackle all of these questions and more.  Greg and RD Mention Kyle Landis who is the Pastor of Mobilization at Fellowship Church. Greg and RD reference a quote from CS Lewis in The Screwtape Letters “There are two equal and opposite errors...

Continuing our series going through every book of the Bible, RD and Greg dive into Acts and discuss the Apostles, stories of the early church and the theology we find in the book.  This episode is part of a series going through the books of the Bible. Here’s past episodes:  1 Peter  Genesis Romans  Matthew  Did we mention we did Romans?  And also Romans RD references the Bible Project  For more in...

The term "Church" can mean a variety of things to different people, some good, some not so good. But what does the Bible say the Church is and what does the Word command us about relating to "The Bride of Christ"? RD references the sermon he preached entitled New Family about the church’s role in our lives as we become new people, in a new family on a new mission.  Greg mentions Off Stage episode...

This week, Greg and RD assess the phrase "faith over fear" in light of the Bible. RD references our Deep Dive episode on How to Study the Bible  Greg references last week’s wild episode Hot Take America , check it out.  Greg references Matthew 10:28  RD references Hebrews 11:1 Greg references Proverbs 9:10 For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org   You can also e-mail...

This week, Greg and RD venture into the tumultuous world of hot takes. Buckle up folks, it's a wild one. Here’s the Luther insult generator , you bungling magpies.  Greg references Galatians 6:6-10 Creed was a band in the early 2000’s that some parents wouldn’t allow their kids to listen to. Greg and RD reference the 2003 film Love Actually   RD References James 1:26 RD References Proverbs 15:4  ...

This week, Greg and R.D. are digging into missions and what it means for the church. Greg references Galatians 2 and Acts 15.   RD references 1 Peter 2:8-10   RD references Colossians 1:28-29  Greg references Galatians 6:10  Greg references Ephesians 2:8-10 RD references James 2:14-26 RD references Isaiah 6:8 For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org   You can also e-m...

Greg and RD investigate “Purity Culture” and its effects on the lives of Christians in the past and present.  Greg mentions a previous episode on the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast.  Greg and RD discuss Joshua Harris’s appearance on the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill as well as his controversial book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Greg and RD reference the book “Every Man’s Battle”    Greg of course re...

Greg and RD reference the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Greg references the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995. Greg and RD reference the Soviet Union Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.  RD references Isaiah 25.  Greg references Isaiah 6.  For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org   You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org

Greg and RD are talking about the new podcast series from Christianity Today “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill”   Greg references the Theranos scandal and the trial of former CEO, Elizabeth Holmes .   RD references the recent resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.  RD references the 2015 film, Spotlight .  RD references the book The Cult of We: WeWork, Adam Neumann and the Great Startup Delu...

In today’s episode, Greg and R.D. discuss a wide range of issues regarding Covid, vaccines and ways we have to think about moving forward.  This episode was recorded weeks ago so some of the information has been modified. We wanted to provide some examples of information that we discuss.    The Delta variant is a large percentage of the new cases  https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2021/...

Greg and RD are talking about US Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and her withdrawal from multiple competitions at the games.  RD references the documentary Golden. Greg references Dak Prescott opening up about his mental health as well as tennis player Naomi Osaka.  The basketball player Greg casually mentions that you might have heard of before.  Greg mentions the Open Door podcast episodes on menta...

Greg and RD answer your toughest questions to end season 4.

The Most Magical Place on Earth. Walt Disney World and Disney itself is a world of magic, escape, and storytelling.  What has Disney tapped into? What do their stories reveal about the Story? How do Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Toy Story hint at the story at the gospel?  The biography of Walt Disney that RD mentioned is linked here. Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination https://www.am...

Greg takes time to explain capitalism and Marxism , as well as give some history on these ways of thought.   RD breaks down some Biblical texts showing that the means of production ultimately is owned by God, and we are stewards of this .   Greg references the 2015 movie The Big Short , and RD references the book The Smartest Guys in the Room .   Greg brings up a quote from Animal Farm , and discu...

RD and Greg start their conversation by talking about Columbine .   They discuss the sin and Satan element in murder by looking at Cain and Abel .   Greg mentions that sometimes we don’t know why a mass shooter commits the crime, like with the Las Vegas country music festival shooting . He also mentions how much the Sandy Hook school shooting affected him personally.   Greg takes time to explain a...

In today’s episode, Greg and R.D. talk about Major League Baseball’s decision to pull the All Star game out of Georgia because of the new election laws. How does the interaction of corporate America and political America intersect and how should Christians engage the issue? More than all this- what does this tell us about ourselves and how we disagree and interact with one another?

A quick announcement about this week's episode.

Greg and RD dive into things like the motivation behind posting things on social media and what it's like to be a "digital natives" (someone who has grown up with social media, and has always had a social media account). They also discuss how social media can shape your world or make you feel discontent (which can make you post "digital self-harm"), and make you feel close to people that you're no...

Greg and RD jump right into their discussion by talking about the Trinity, then reinforcing that the Holy Spirit is a person .   Greg cautions listeners when they are breaking down or splitting up the Trinity; he mentions using the Economic Trinity teaching to help understand how the Trinity works.   The two repeat that the Spirit's job is to point people to Jesus , not to Himself; the Spirit is c...

RD and Greg jump into 1 Peter with some history of the book , including who authored it . RD states early on that 1 Peter was written to the "elect exiles."   Greg reveals that the major themes of 1 Peter are suffering , the divinity of Jesus, and the apocalypse. RD adds that we shouldn't be surprised when we experience suffering as a Believer because we are told again and again in the Bible to ex...

After introducing their more PG-13 subject of pornography, Greg explains some history behind how we got to where we are . RD is quick to point out that this issue affects both men and women .   The two discuss how there are often only two schools of thought about pornography: It is the unforgivable sin (which leads to shame and not real conversation), or it's celebrated as providing sexual freedom...