So We Speak

If there's one book that influenced the men of the great awakening, it was Henry Scougal's The Life of God in the Soul of Man. This short book made a major impact in the years following. What does it truly mean to be a Christian and what are the signs of life with God? Cole and Terry discuss the book and what we can learn from it today in this episode. 

Is there more to sin than bad behavior? If we follow our behavior down into our emotions, drives, and desires, we discover that sin is far deeper than the external manifestations. The root issue is idolatry in our hearts. In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss David Powlison's article, " Idols of the Heart and Vanity Fair ," and the implications for dealing with sin in our lives and giving spirit...

What is preaching? What makes a great sermon? In this last episode on influential books, Cole and Terry discuss John Piper's Expository Exultation, Tim Keller's Preaching, and Abraham Kuruvilla's A Manual for Preaching to model going from the text to the sermon and how to make the sermon stick. 

Jonathan Edwards is famous for his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," but there is so much more to this great American preacher and theologian. Many argue that Edwards is the greatest mind America has ever produced, others view him primarily as a defender of the Great Awakening. In this episode, Cole, Terry, and Cliff wrap up the Awakening series with a discussion of Edwards's ministr...

Edwin Friedman's book Failure of Nerve is a hidden gem for personal and organizational leadership. In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss the key ideas and the ways Friedman's work compares and contrasts with Christian wisdom for leaders. 

Maybe one person bears the responsibility more than any other for the preaching of the Great Awakening: George Whitefield. In England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and America, Whitefield tirelessly preached the Gospel with incredible spiritual power. As Cole, Terry and Cliff discuss his life and legacy, you'll see the powerful implications for the church today. 

Charles Taylor's massive book A Secular Age has been highly influential in understanding the cultural world we live in today. You may not wade through the whole thing, but you'll want to grasp a few key terms and ideas he presents. In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss secularism, the porous and buffered self, and the immanent frame.  Also mentioned in this episode:  " Cracks in the Secular " -...

In the middle of the 18th Century, America went through a time of spiritual revival known as the Great Awakening. This movement of God has affected the country ever since. What was so special about that time? What really happened? In this episode, Cole and Terry are joined by Dr. Cliff Sanders, the founder and president of the School of Wesleyan Studies to talk about John Wesley's role in the Grea...

In this episode on influential books, Cole and Terry discuss biblical theology through the lens of G. K. Beale's The Temple and the Church's Mission and Michael Morales's Exodus: Old and New. 

If you were going to write a letter to the American church, what would you say? Eric Metaxas did just that. Cole and Terry discuss his new book, the interesting questions it raises, and what they might include in a letter of their own. 

We get asked a lot - how do you read and remember all these books? In a short Friday episode, Cole and Terry talk about reading, highlighting, and remembering great books. Everyone has to develop a system of their own, but these are some tried and tested methods for getting more out of your reading. 

How should Christians engage the culture? In Rules for Reformers, Douglas Wilson lays out a plan for cultural engagement and Christian fidelity. Cole and Terry discuss Wilson's voluminous work, his writing on marriage and family, and his impact on their lives. 

This month, we're celebrating 5 years of So We Speak. What started with a small weekly email has become a place where tens of thousands of people stay informed without being conformed. Cole and Terry discuss the beginning of So We Speak, the mission of the ministry, and what they see for the future. 

Eugene Peterson is best known for the Message, but he should be better known for his pastoral books. In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss two of Peterson's books, Working the Angles and Under the Unpredictable Plant , and the huge impact he's had on them as pastors. 

Did you know that you have to pursue holiness? Jerry Bridges' book The Pursuit of Holiness is one of our impactful books. In it, he summarizes God's requirement that his people be holy and practical ways to work toward putting sin to death and seeing the fruit of the Spirit. 

In the kickoff of a new series, Cole and Terry discuss books that have been influential in their thinking and faith. This week, they discuss The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers and Desiring God by John Piper. 

In the opening chapters of Genesis, things go from bad to worse. The story of Cain and Abel is about a fued between two brothers, but it's also something much more than that. In this episode, Terry and Cole dive into the other aspects of this familiar story and the powerful application for today.  Listen to Cole's sermon, " Fig Leaves: Cain and Abel ." 

Should every sermon have an altar call? Not exactly, but every sermon should have a strong application rooted in the text. That's what O.S. Hawkins and Matt Queen argue in The Gospel Invitation. They lay out the biblical background and practical tips for extending gospel invitations in preaching. 

The opening scenes of Genesis evoke numerous questions, but maybe the most important is: what will you do with your guilt and shame? In a recent sermon , Cole preached on the fig leaves in Genesis 3. Cole and Terry discuss this passage and others in the opening pages of the Bible. 

How will Tim Keller be remembered? In previous episodes, Cole and Terry have discussed Keller's series of articles, " The Decline and Renewal of the American Church. " Here, they reflect on the dynamics of renewal in the church and talk about the impact Tim Keller had on their lives and on the church. 

"John Owen was the greatest - and certainly the most formidable - of English Protestant theologians.” So begins Crawford Gribben's book, An Introduction to John Owen, the best introduction to one of the most influential and enduring Christian theologians. But there's more to Owen than his theology. He was a man of the church, served as Vice Chancellor of Oxford, and lived through one of the most t...

In this final episode on the book of Revelation, Terry and Cole discuss the following questions: 1. What does it mean that we will be judged by our deeds and how does this square with salvation by faith? 2. Will there be rewards in heaven?  3. What is your view on Revelation?    Watch the whole Apocalypse series at Crossings Community Church . 

What makes a great worship set? How does God use the planning, preparation, all the different pieces, and promptings in the moment to meet his people in worship? This week Mars Coleman joins the podcast to talk about leading worship, writing songs, and life as a Christian artist.  Follow Mars on his website and on Spotify . 

If we're saved by grace through faith, how were people saved before Jesus's death and resurrection? In this episode, Cole and Terry talk about salvation in the Old Testament, specifically salvation through faith when faith has not yet become sight. 

In this episode, Terry and Cole discuss these questions: 1. How do different views of the end times affect engagement with culture? 2. Does anyone deserve eternal punishment? Is that just?