Shifting Culture

In this episode, Mark Baker talks about Paul’s letter to the Galatians. We talk about non-judgmentalism, bounded, fuzzy, and centered sets, our orientation to God and to each other in the body of Christ, spiritual powers that have influenced us and the freedom that we have from them, and more. Mark Baker is Professor of Mission and Theology at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary. He previously was a...

In this episode, Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones talk about how to create a multi-ethnic Kingdom community in our churches like it will be in heaven. We talk through the unity and diversity in the identity of God, how our unity and diversity flows out of that identity, and how lament is important to establish ties between ethnic groups. We ground our conversation in the story of Jamaal, Tim...

In this episode, Jessica Hooten Wilson talks about her latest book  Reading for the Love of God , reading as a spiritual practice, how to use the four senses and the four stages to read well, how Jesus teaches us how to read well, what it means to read poorly, and how art, literature, and beauty can help transform our lives and move us closer to God. Jessica Hooten Wilson is the inaugural Seaver C...

In this episode, Josh White and I have a conversation about the foolishness of the cross. About our need to be confronted with the end of ourselves, so we can be dependent on Christ. We talk about how confession can drive our communities, being a witness to Jesus in the world, and radical grace and vulnerability. Josh White is a speaker, recording artist, writer and founding pastor of Door of Hope...

In this episode, Eun K. Strawser talks about centering discipleship in community. She answers the question, how do we imitate Jesus together, so that we can look like Him, and move toward our neighbor in mission? We talk through the elements of formation, rhythms, and examples that move our community towards one that centers Jesus and discipleship to Him.  Eun K. Strawser is the co-vocational lead...

In this episode, Benjamin Windle talks about the themes of his latest book Good Catastrophe. He talks about finding hope in the midst of despair, darkness, and catastrophe. Is it possible to find? Well, Ben takes the story of Job and illuminates it for our time. Benjamin Windle is an innovative and empathic author, speaker, and Millennial/Gen Z specialist. As a pastor for over 20 years, he has wal...

In this episode, Andrew Root talks about his latest book When Church Stops Working , and he answers the question why isn't innovation the answer? He talks through waiting for the Spirit's leading, paying attention to our stories, being witnesses to the acts of God, and sitting with the sorrows of our neighbors. Andrew Root, PhD (Princeton Theological Seminary) is the Carrie Olson Baalson...

In this episode, Nijay and I have a great conversation about how women led and ministered in the Bible and in the early church. He digs in to the stories of Deborah, Junia, Mary, Priscilla, Phoebe, and more. He also talks through the context and culture of the time and place of the early church, so we can start to see with new eyes what women were doing and how they were treated. We also talk abou...

In this episode, Ashley Hales talks about a more spacious life, helping us see that our limits are good and point us to God. She shares spiritual practices to help notice God in everyday life, to remind ourselves that we are His beloved children, and to move from the cerebral to the rest of the body. She also talks about how to have hope in suffering, and helps us navigate the cultural landscape w...

In this episode, Jared Brock uncovers the human life of Jesus. Who was he as a child? What was the culture and context of his life and ministry? What were the economics, philosophy, and teachings of Jesus? Who was the crime family that had Jesus killed? We talk about these things and more. Jared Brock is an award-winning author and director of several films including PBS's acclaimed Redeeming...

In this episode, Christopher Wright talks about the great story, the grand narrative of the Bible and the mission of God and discusses what part the great commission plays in the story.  We talk about the marks of mission, how we should live in God's story, and how seeing the world through a missional worldview changes the way we interact in the world. Chris Wright is the Global Ambassador of...

In this episode Josh Green talks about what is happening in the youth culture today, hunger for the presence of Jesus, prayer that is persistent, consistent, and resistant, revival that's bubbling up around the world, putting Jesus first and at the center, living out our faith authentically and consistently, and he gives a first hand account of what happened at Asbury. Josh is Youth Director...

Elijah Davidson talks about finding the Spirit of God in film, craft, and the arts, and his process of writing a Christian guide to the greatest films of all time. He wrestles through questions that films invoke in all of us, he shares how to read film, how film applies to our faith and life, and more. Elijah Davidson is a writer living in California. He is the author of How to Talk to a Movie: Mo...

In this episode, Jessie Cruickshank talks about her latest book Ordinary Discipleship, how everyone can be a disciple of Jesus and a disciple maker, the hero’s journey, community transformation towards Jesus, hearing God’s voice, experiential and narrative based discipleship that follows brain science and the way we have been wired, and more. It’s a great conversation and builds on our previous ep...

In this episode Dr. Scot McKnight gives a vision for the book of Revelation. He talks about how we, as followers of Jesus, can live faithfully as witnesses to the Lamb in the shadow of Babylon (or the Empire). He talks about being dissident disciples, how black spirituals are an example of the songs in Revelation, how the Gospel sees and utilizes power, and more. Scot McKnight is Professor of New...

In this episode Hugh Halter talks about family on mission, raising kingdomlings, not church kids, the importance of being less individualistic, materialistic, and consumeristic, releasing our kids to the Lord, discipleship in the family, and more. HUGH HALTER and Cheryl, as well as their children and truckload of grandchildren, all live in Alton Illinois. They have been missionaries in North Ameri...

In this episode Kat Armas shares her story and how that informs her faith, and we talk about centering the marginalized, how to embody faith, healing the trauma of our past, and more. Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer and podcaster from Miami, FL. She holds a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary where she was awarded the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing, and is c...

In this episode Brandon Wrencher talks about the black prophetic tradition, the importance of embodying the truth, practicals around community organizing for the common good, people receiving the power they have that is given to them by God, transformation to hope, peace, and joy, and more. Brandon is a minister, community organizer, teacher and facilitator. He works across faith, higher education...

In this episode Jesse Roberts talks about Poor Bishop Hooper, the EveryPsalm project, getting the word of God in the heart of people through music and song, the importance and power of beauty, small expressions of church, living with others, and being formed by Jesus. Jesse Roberts is one half of the duo Poor Bishop Hooper. Jesse writes, records, and performs with his wife Leah. Their latest proje...

It's episode 100! Thank you for going on this journey with me. It's been an amazing ride. In this episode, Sara Billups talks about her new book Orphaned Believers, the cultural components of white evangelical culture of the 80s and 90s, how we are formed - whether it be by the culture around us or into the image and likeness of Jesus, and the importance of love as the antidote to fear....

In this episode Ed Khouri talks about being God's favorite, receiving grace and joy in recovery from addictive behavior, becoming a face of grace for others, lectio and scripture reflection as a group, the repair of broken things, and more.  For more than 40 years, Ed Khouri has served churches, communities, and hurting people worldwide.  He worked with substance abusers and their families in...

In this episode Daniel Grothe talks about the power of place, stability, and rootedness. And how the family of God can help re-family the world. Along with ways in which we can help bring Kingdom flourishing to a place and community. Daniel Grothe is the associate senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he’s been for eighteen years. He’s the author of Chasing Wisdom a...

In this episode Pete Greig talks about the paradox of the Kingdom, serving the Good Shepherd and the bleeding Lamb, finding diverse perspectives in the church, the importance of prayer, and hope for what can come out of Waverley Abbey. Pete Greig is the increasingly bewildered founder of 24-7 Prayer an international, interdenominational movement of prayer, mission and justice which has been prayin...

In this episode Lucy Peppiatt talks about how theology has shaped her life and leadership, and how it affects the practical mission of the church. We also talk through the authority of Jesus and the given authority we have as Christ-followers and the implications of that practically through healing, deliverance, women in leadership, and more. Lucy Peppiatt is the Principal of Westminster Theologic...

In this episode Beth Paz talks about incarnational work, her journey with Jesus and moments of changing her mind. She shares her journey through the valley of grief and desolation during her divorce and finding that Jesus - the one who suffered - was with her through it all. Beth has dedicated her life to mobilizing young people to be the next generation of leaders to live out the Gospel and join...