Provoke & Inspire Podcast

Are we heading into a population collapse of apocalyptic proportions? What is it that's leading younger people into cosmetic surgeries? Did a country singer cross the line with his new song comparing Jesus to a drinking establishment? Luke is absent, David shares his fear of projectile infants on an upcoming vacation, and the guys touch on a number of topics including questions of contextuali...

Why is it that the artistic images of the bible seem to contradict the rules of the protestant church? What does this say about how we interpret the scripture, and how we can better change our culture to move closer to a biblical vision for art? Listen to the full episode here: Spotify Apple ---------------------- Do you ever struggle with how to share your faith with those who won't walk int...

Are there really three billion people who have not yet heard the gospel? What barriers stand in the way, and how can we, as the Church, respond? What role do we play in changing that reality? Ben and Aaron Pierce sit down with pastor, speaker, and author David Platt (Founder of Radical) at Austin Texas' SXSW festival to discuss how the church can hope to reach the unreached, as outlined in th...

Jon McCray shares his story of getting started in YouTube apologetics, but not before enduring a season of hearing loss which put his faith to the test. Listen to the full episode here: Spotify Apple ---------------------- Do you ever struggle with how to share your faith with those who won't walk into a church? Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular Wo...

How do we properly address one of the most contentious topics the church faces today? How can we love and engage the LGBT scene with the love of Jesus?    Instagram influencer Rodereck Blassingame sits down with Ben and Aaron Pierce in Austin, TX during the SXSW Festival 2025, and shares his testimony of leaving the LGBT scene for a relationship with Jesus. ---------------------- Interested in the...

The world is in chaos—wars, political turmoil, and the relentless pull of ideologies demanding our allegiance. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to be aware but not consumed, to engage without compromising, and to prioritize His kingdom over any earthly power In this episode, we explore what it means to live as exiles in modern culture, resisting the seduction of political loyalty while speaking...

What does it mean for faith, love, and human connection, when AI-driven relationships are becoming increasingly common? Can a chatbot truly replace real intimacy, is it deepening the loneliness crisis, and how should followers of Jesus respond to a world where people turn to AI for companionship? In this episode, the regulars wrestle with the implications of AI romances, exploring the intersection...

Why do many relationships seem doomed to fail despite initial love and commitment? Why are more and more people waiting to get married? Gary Thomas unpacks the hidden dynamics behind why relationships sometimes fail and explores the cultural and personal reasons behind why so many people are remaining single. Drawing from his acclaimed book Sacred Marriage , Gary offers practical, spiritually grou...

Ben is joined by author, speaker, pastor, and former frontman of the Christian metalcore band "For Today", Mattie Montgomery! How do we live for what really matters - being faithful in the roles God has called us into, be that a pastor, parent, friend, and above all, follower of Jesus? Mattie also answers the question, "How does the vocalist of a metalcore band become the pastor of...

Do you ever struggle with how to share the love of Jesus with your friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers? Does it feel like an impossible task in today’s culture? You're not alone - but there’s hope! Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis —a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot...

What does the Bible really say about heaven? How has the hope and promise of eternity ignited faith, sparked movements, and reshaped history?  Atheists often accuse Christians of wasting their lives in anticipation of the afterlife, but the guys dive in to how, on the contrary, it has fueled faith, inspired movements, and shaped the course of history. After the podcast's release two weeks ago...

Los Angeles influencer and speaker Elijah Lamb joins Ben on the podcast to discuss Gen Z's greatest obstacles to accepting the gospel, as well as the greatest opportunities that exist for it. Elijah shares his story of encountering God at an early age, along with his journey of having Jesus lead him to teaching, evangelizing, and better understanding the people God is calling him to reach. --...

Instagrammer Kareem Rahma of "SubwayTakes" recently posted a reel of him talking with a guy who expresses that going to heaven would suck. Is there some truth in this misconception? Is heaven really going to be an eternal church service? If it's simply the best version of everything here on earth, wouldn't that eventually become a prison? The regulars weigh in on this contentio...

Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook/Meta, recently went on the popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, to discuss his company's policy changes concerning freedom of speech and expression on their social media platforms. Amid Zuckerberg's admissions of deliberate pressure and interference from the Biden administration, especially regarding COVID-19, the regulars weigh in on the...

Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to, "Train up a child in the way he should go..." and goes on to say that, "even when he is old he will not depart from it." What about when those closest to us walk away from God? Was it our responsibility to prevent it?  How does this apply, when all around us we see the kids of pastors, missionaries, and Christians in general, departing from the fa...

Back in October, Theologian Wes Huff and ancient civilizations researcher Billy Carson recently had a debate on the Mark Minard podcast. Billy argues that biblical texts are inaccurate and that even the crucifixion did not happen, while Wes, a biblical scholar with expertise in ancient manuscripts, counters this position with evidence of the Bible’s historical reliability and unique origins. The a...

New year, new resolutions! But how do we avoid making resolutions that are the desires of a spiritualized hustle culture? "I want this, this, and this (for myself)." Instead, how do we reorient our hearts toward seeking God's will and his dreams for our lives? ------------------------ Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandins...

Ben and David come to you from a hotel in Pereira, Colombia, on the final No Longer Music tour of 2024. Ben shares how nearly every single concert has been a fight: obtaining permissions, facing corruption, problems with city officials, and more. Yet in light of that, how every show has resulted in people becoming radically transformed by the message of the Cross and surrendering their lives to Je...

“Carpe diem, seize the day”… At the end of the year, Ben goes solo to address a question that haunts many people: “how do I make my life count?” ------------------------ Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org , or send us a message on Instagram . Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly...

No one can choose when they are born, should they be able to decide when they die? Canada’s MAID program (medical assistance in dying) is one of many Euthanasia-based medical practices worldwide, existing as a legal means of ending one’s life in the case of those whose death is “reasonably foreseeable.” Is there mercy in ending someone’s suffering, or are we in danger of treating people as a vet w...

Ben is joined by Andy Crouch, author of The Tech-Wise Family , as well as his latest, The Life We're Looking For . Andy Crouch (MDiv, Boston University School of Theology) is a partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship, and he is the author of The Tech-Wise Family , Strong and Weak , and Culture Making . Andy se...

Are you willing to look foolish to reach people for Jesus? What does that look like in everyday life?  Can't we just be cool and faithful at the same time? The guys answer these questions and more!      Also, are you unlikeable? Leon runs the guys through a likeability test. Play along and see how you score! Rarely = 3 Sometimes = 2 Often = 1 0 - 12 = Unlikeable Jerk 13 - 26 = Slightly Tolera...

Birthdays are a special occasion, yet they can be hard to enjoy. Why do we feel lonely, anxious, or disappointed on a day that is supposed to be joyful and filled with celebration? Ben goes solo to give you tell you why birthdays, empirically speaking, suck. ------------------------ Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org...

Artificial Intelligence has long been seen as an inevitable threat to mankind, but in what way? Is it possible that it's more subtle than something like James Cameron's 1984 film "The Terminator" made it out to be? The regulars react to Ben's story of an AI-generated podcast episode that stirred up questions of meaning and the potential for human obsolescence. Meanwhile, D...

We all go through hard times, but how do we respond in a Godly way? What does it practically look like to trust God in situations we can’t control? For this week’s episode, Ben shares his thoughts about these questions and reveals an exciting change that is coming to the podcast! ------------------------ Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokea...