Peaceable And Kind

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the Holy Convergence series by exploring the gift of Protestantism: audacity. Audacity is the courage to challenge assumptions, confront corruption, and pursue reform when faithfulness requires it. While audacity can easily become arrogance when detached from humility and love, it has also been the driving force behind...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the Holy Convergence series by exploring the gift of Anglican liturgy. While Anglicanism is often associated with the Church of England and its complicated break from Rome under Henry VIII, Derek argues that its deeper story is rooted in a desire to remain connected to the ancient catholic and apostolic faith while embracing the refor...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the “Holy Convergence” series by exploring the gift the Roman Catholic tradition offers the wider church: beauty. Derek begins by reflecting on the meaning of the word catholic, which means ”universal.” He also discusses why Christians should resist the impulse to dismiss entire traditions because of personal wounds or disagreements....

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the “Holy Convergence” series by exploring the gifts of Eastern Orthodoxy.   Derek begins by tracing the historical roots of Eastern Orthodoxy through the Great Schism of 1054, when the church in the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West formally divided after centuries of growing cultural, political, and theological separat...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland introduces a vision he has been articulating for years—a way of understanding both his own spiritual journey and the identity of the church he serves, Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Derek describes it as a holy convergence: the coming together of the gifts and wisdom of multiple Christian traditions within one church centered on J...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland presents a positive case for Christian nonviolence as a faithful response to the teachings and example of Jesus. Building on previous critiques of Just War Theory, Derek argues that Christian nonviolence, in contrast to pacificism is not an ethical principle or social strategy. Rather it is a virtue formed through following Jesus.  Christian no...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the journey into Tolkien’s world this time joined by longtime friend and guest Walter Rogero. Together, they explore why The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien’s broader legendarium continue to matter for Christian faith today. Walter brings both pastoral experience and deep familiarity with Tolkien’s writings, offering insight into how Mi...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland reflects on the ongoing reality of war and offers a thoughtful critique of Just War Theory, a framework long embraced by both Catholic and Protestant traditions. Beginning with the classical principles of Just War as articulated by Thomas Aquinas and developed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Derek acknowledges the theory’s historical r...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland takes a fresh look at the central theme of Jesus’ ministry, the kingdom of God. While the phrase is familiar to many Christians, it is often misunderstood, reduced, or distorted. Jesus proclaimed, taught, and demonstrated the kingdom by announcing good news, explaining its implications, and embodying its power through healing. But the kingdom i...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland returns to Middle-earth for one final “dip into Tolkien,” reflecting on the Elves of The Lord of the Rings—ancient, wise, and quietly powerful figures who stand at the fading edge of an age.   Though not the central heroes of the story, the Elves serve as keepers of memory, bearers of wisdom, and guardians of beauty. Derek explores how characte...

In this milestone episode, Derek reflects on the journey of Peaceable and Kind, 100 episodes exploring what it means to follow Jesus in a way marked by peace and kindness. Rather than introducing a new topic, this episode looks back at the themes, questions, and conversations that have shaped the podcast so far, from spiritual formation and Scripture to politics, reconciliation, and the life of Je...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland returns to Middle Earth to reflect on one of the most overlooked characters in The Lord of the Rings: Samwise Gamgee. While the story is filled with kings, warriors, and wizards, Derek makes the case that the true hero of Tolkien’s epic is not Gandalf, Aragorn, or even Frodo, but a humble gardener from the Shire. Sam is not a typical powerful o...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland invites listeners on a journey into the world of The Lord of the Rings. Not as an expert, but as a fellow traveler, Derek reflects on his first deep reading of Tolkien’s epic and the way Middle Earth reshapes how we think about power, mercy, and hope. Tolkien built a world with its own languages, history, and moral imagination. And unlike fast-...

In this Easter episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and reflects on why Easter stands at the very center of the Christian faith. While many churches may not follow the traditional rhythms of the Christian calendar, nearly all Christians celebrate Easter, and for good reason. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then the entire Christian story collapses...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland sits down with Mark DeYmaz, the founder of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas and a leading voice in the multiethnic church movement. They talk about Mark’s newest book, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace. Drawing from the Prayer of St. Francis, Mark offers a vision for becoming more like Jesus in a divided world. Mark shares his spiritual jour...

In this Holy Week episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland concludes the Lenten journey through Fleming Rutledge’s The Crucifixion. This episode reflects on the meaning of the cross through the final biblical motif Rutledge explores: recapitulation. Derek also offers his final thoughts on Rutledge’s book. Recapitulation is the idea that Jesus “sums up” the human story and lives it again the r...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the Lenten journey through Fleming Rutledge’s The Crucifixion, focusing on substitution. While Rutledge explores eight major biblical images of the atonement, substitution receives the most pages and perhaps the most theological weight.  Rutledge has suggested that all the biblical metaphors of atonement can be gathered under two head...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the Lenten journey through Fleming Rutledge’s The Crucifixion, focusing on two powerful chapters: the Christus Victor image of the cross and Jesus’ descent into hell.  Christus Victor is the great battle metaphor of the atonement. At the cross, Jesus defeats the enslaving powers of Sin, Death, and the devil. These are not abstract ide...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the Lenten journey through Fleming Rutledge’s The Crucifixion, exploring four major biblical images for understanding the death of Jesus: Passover and Exodus, blood sacrifice, ransom and redemption, and final judgment. Derek insists that we do not begin with atonement theories or later theological debates. Rather we begin with the Old...

In this deeply theological episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the Lenten journey through Fleming Rutledge’s The Crucifixion by working through two chapters that bring Rutledge’s long introduction to a close. These chapters cover her reconsideration of Anselm and satisfaction theory and her exploration of the gravity of Sin. They both lay crucial groundwork for everything that...

Lent is underway, and in this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek continues the Lenten journey through Fleming Rutledge’s monumental book, The Crucifixion. This episode takes a deep dive into chapters 2 and 3, confronting the ugliness of the cross and rethinking the meaning of the wrath of God. Before the cross became a polished religious symbol, it was an instrument of terror, shame, and public...

With Ash Wednesday approaching, Derek begins a special seven-week journey focused on the cross by introducing what he considers the most important contemporary book written on the death of Jesus: The Crucifixion by Fleming Rutledge.  In a religious culture often drawn toward inspiration, self-help, or relevance at all costs, Rutledge refuses to soften the offense of the gospel. She insists that Ch...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland continues the ongoing conversation about hypocrisy by turning toward a path of recovery. Rather than offering quick fixes or moralistic pressure, Derek invites listeners into a deeper vision of formation, one that reaches back into the ancient world for wisdom that still speaks today.  Drawing on Aristotle’s vision of ethics and virtue, and lat...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek reflects on the devastating news surrounding Philip Yancey and what it reveals about the persistent problem of hypocrisy within the Christian life. Yancey’s writing shaped the faith of generations, helping many of us trust that grace is greater than sin. When news broke of his long-hidden moral failure, the response was not anger or judgment, but grief,...

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland invites listeners on a journey from ancient Athens to Jerusalem, exploring how Greek philosophy, especially Aristotle, has helped clarify Christian faith without ever replacing divine revelation. While reason must always remain subordinate to revelation, the wisdom of Athens can still serve the truth revealed in Christ.  Derek is joined by Loui...