Provoke & Inspire Podcast

How do we maintain a vibrant prayer life without it becoming stale, or simply ritualistic? Is there a formula to follow to ensure this doesn't happen? Ben, Luke and David sit down in person during Steiger's International Gathering in Germany, to discuss these questions and more including the possibility of a new vocation for Nigel the silent clown. ---------------------------------------...

This is Provoke and Inspire's Quick Hit, where we recap Instant Reactions and full length conversations, all while asking the question, “what would Jesus think, and what would he want me to do about it?” While the internet has opened up doors to many opportunities and possibilities, there are also increasingly apparent negative aspects of the internet. How do we respond to this ever-increasin...

This is Provoke and Inspire's Quick Hit, where we recap Instant Reactions and full length conversations, all while asking the question, “what would Jesus think, and what would he want me to do about it?” During an ill-fated speech, a German politician spoke into the future, saying that September 24th would be "a day we never forget". This set off a frenzy of predictions about the en...

This is the P&I Quick Hit, where Ben goes solo to address a widespread phenomenon and how it affects the church, as well as the Christian individual; the consumption of violent media. What does it do to us, what does scripture about it, and what does Jesus say about it? ------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Se...

"If you build it, they will come," is a philosophy the modern church seems to be stuck on in terms of ministry - specifically coffee shop ministry. Ben sits down with Steiger Missionary Lukas Rüegger to talk about his cafe "The Living Room" in Beirut, Lebanon, and why it's actually making an impact for the gospel in the secular culture around them. ------------------------...

In this episode Ben and David come to you from a warm hotel room in Munich to share all that God has been doing on NLM's tour of Germany, as well as dig into four key principles related to sharing the gospel. ------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org , or send us a messa...

Why does Christian music, and Christian art in general, have a reputation of being sub-par, disingenuous, boring, or simply bad? Is this really the case, and if so - why? The regulars weigh in on this issue and discuss why this might have been the case, and what we can do about it as followers of Jesus. ------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd l...

The FX Media Network just recently released a four part docu-series titled, "The Secrets of Hillsong," revealing the scandals of Frank and Brian Houston, as well as Carl Lentz.  Chad and Ben discuss the megachurch model, the trappings of money and fame, and the often fatal combination it seems to produces when combined with ministry.  ------------------------------------------------- Que...

Is there spiritual harm in listening to secular music? Can we be influenced by it? Should we consume any secular art? After writer and teacher, Jackie Hill Perry, speaks out against listening to secular music, the regulars are back together again and talk through these important questions. ------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear wh...

Dr. Timothy Keller was a constant source of inspiration and encouragement. His unwavering commitment to the Gospel, Biblical truth, and love for people made him a powerful tool in God's hands. We had the privilege of interviewing him back in 2019. He was deep, insightful, and even tolerated David's random question at the end! He ran the race well until the end! Send us Fan Mail

How should we navigate the different issues that we will face when sharing the gospel with people outside of the church? Can we relevantly communicate the gospel with someone who has no relationship with church, or is far from God? Closing out this four part series, Ben references the writings of the Apostle Paul and talks about how we can demonstrate the power of God to people through sharing our...

Can we relevantly communicate the gospel with someone who has no relationship with church, or is far from God? How should we navigate the different issues that we will face when sharing the gospel with people outside of the church? In this episode of the four part series, Ben gives practical steps on how we can have good answers to hard questions, along with four thoughts on how to approach diffic...

Is it possible to relevantly communicate the gospel with someone who has no relationship with church, or knowledge of God; someone who is so far removed from the religious demographic our churches are trying to reach? Ben goes solo again to address this topic, drawing from Romans 1 as well as the writings of Augustine for answers. To listen to the two episodes mentioned in this podcast from "...

Is it possible to relevantly communicate the gospel with someone who has no relationship with church, or knowledge of God; someone who is so far removed from the religious demographic our churches are trying to reach? In this episode Ben goes solo to address this topic, drawing answers from the book of Nehemiah, among other sources. ------------------------------------------------- Questions, comm...

Can someone be permanently disqualified from ministry? What does the Bible have to say on this topic, and how should we view the return of former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz? All of this and more is discussed by the regulars on this week's episode. Check it out! ------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send t...

For this week's special episode, Ben is joined by American author, Philip Yancey, who explores the most basic questions and the deepest mysteries of the Christian faith. Together, they talk through Philip's story and his new book, " Where the Light Fell: A Memoir ", deconstruction, and how you can speak to someone who is far from God. -------------------------------------------...

Do our church marketing strategies work? How should we respond to an increasingly secularized world?    This is Provoke and Inspire "Instant Reaction,” where we gather some of the most pressing events & stories from around the world and ask the question, “what would Jesus think, and what would he want me to do about it?” ----------------------------------------------------- Questions, com...

American internet influencer Emma Chamberlain recently released two podcast episodes sharing her thoughts on religion and spirituality. Like her, many Gen-Z and Millennials are religiously skeptical, but spiritually curious. How important is it to understand how Gen-Z views spirituality and religion? How can we use this as an opportunity to share the gospel? The four regulars come together once ag...

Internet superstar Emma Chamberlain is religiously skeptical but spiritually curious, along with many people in our culture today. Is this a barrier or an opportunity? Let's find out! This is Provoke and Inspire "Instant Reaction,” where we gather some of the most pressing events & stories from around the world and ask the question, “what would Jesus think, and what would he want me...

Are widespread issues such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression worse inside of the Church? Why is it that in the place where we should feel the most welcomed and at home, we sometimes feel the most isolated? The regulars dig into this subject, and explore what we can do to help remedy this situation as followers of Jesus. ------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or...

The Church of England has been considering how to refer to God without assigning a gender. As followers of Jesus, do we need to adapt with culture and not use pronouns when mentioning God? Or is this a step too far? Looking through the lens of the new Jesus Revolution movie, it’s evident that the Jesus movement challenged the cultural norms of the 1960’s and 70’s. How can we do that in our post-Ch...

Does Hollywood bully Christians, and is it time to embrace our digital addictions? Let's find out! This is Provoke and Inspire "Instant Reaction,” where we gather some of the most pressing events & stories from around the world and ask the question, “what would Jesus think, and what would he want me to do about it?” ----------------------------------------------------- Questions, com...

Social media promotes creating curated images. Photo filters construct a version of oneself that's not even possible to attain. What is beauty, and how does God define it? How can we look at beauty in a healthy way, as to not have it as an idol in our lives, as followers of Jesus? Ben is joined by Courtney to talk about the recently viral TikTok filter "Bold Glamour" and the effects...

Should drag queens perform for children? Should we care about the Gospel Coalition Controversy? Is the creator of the beloved cartoon, "Dilbert", a racist? Let's find out! This is Provoke and Inspire "Instant Reaction,” where we gather some of the most pressing events & stories from around the world and ask the question, “what would Jesus think, and what would he want me to...

This week, Ben and Luke are joined by Tim and Jon from BibleProject! They discuss BibleProject's origins and how it became so wildly popular, growing into one of the top YouTube channels, Bible-related podcasts, and study tools available today for the Bible. Check out the BibleProject! https://www.youtube.com/@bibleproject https://www.instagram.com/thebibleproject ----------------------------...