The Brian Dainsberg Podcast

(Originally Published on November 15, 2021) Satisfying personal desires has become the definition of the "good life." Follow this notion far enough and it leads to distorted definitions that end in moral chaos. If you want to understand cancel culture, you've got to start here. Resources: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Ro...

Forgiveness sounds simple—until you actually have to do it. This episode will unpack why our culture gets forgiveness wrong, why it’s so hard for us personally, and how the cross reshapes everything. If you’ve ever wrestled with letting go, this conversation might be the doorway to real freedom. Resources: Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? - Timothy Keller

It can be very difficult to ascertain a single plotline in a book as large as the Bible. But there is one. In this "out of the box" episode, you'll hear the story of the Bible in 15 minutes.

A former Hollywood actor recently made a splash, sort of, in the Christian digital world when he announced his support for "annihilationism." It's a word many are likely unfamiliar with. So what is this view? And does it make sense of the biblical witness? Resources: Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment  - Christopher W. Morgan (editor), Robert A. Peterso...

Don't human beings have to have free will in order for love to be authentic? What role does God have in securing the love of his creatures? Welcome to a big, deep topic. Resources: God Reforms Hearts: Rethinking Free Will and the Problem of Evil   - Thaddeus Williams

More than one billion people around the world speak English as a second language. But they don't speak it well and live in cultures where information is passed along orally. So how do we get God's Word into their minds and hearts? Special guest Ian Bultman will help explain that and how you are or can be a part of it. Resources: https://www.easyenglish.bible/bible/easy/ https://brinkmana...

It has a complicated history, but knowing something about feminism's ideological genealogy is important to discerning its usefulness to the Christian life. This episode will provide a brief overview of feminism's history and some pastoral reflections on its foundations. Resources: God's Design for Man and Woman: A Biblical-Theological Survey - Andreas J. Kostenberger & Margaret...

The reliability of the Bible is contested in every generation. Every generation has to find ways to provide sound reasons for believing its truthfulness. This episode will highlight three reasons the New Testament in particular ought to be believed. Resources: Why I Trust the Bible: Answers to Real Questions and Doubts People Have about the Bible  - William D. Mounce The New Testament Documents: A...

Religious liberty is a "culture war" issue these days. It's often discussed in civics classes, but is it a biblical and theological concept? You might be surprised to find out how many biblical motifs are connected to this subject. Resources: Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World  - David VanDrunen Political Church: The Local Assembly as Embassy of Chri...

On September 10, countless cameras captured the shocking and brutal assassination of Charlie Kirk. Though his life was cut short, he left behind noble examples that continue to inspire. For Christians, walking through this tragedy presents an opportunity to learn how to face moments of evil with wisdom and faith.

Sports aren't just an American phenomenon. They are a global phenomenon. Just consider the popularity of soccer. What are we to make of it? Are they good? Bad? Useful? Should we enjoy them? Or shun them? Resources: The Reason For Sports: A Christian Fanifesto  - Ted Kluck

In this bonus episode, Lead Pastor Jon Vallier shares how God has been at work at Lakeside Alliance Church, the church Alliance Bible Church planted in January 2024 in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Over the past 18 months, they've seen the power of the gospel impact individual lives, families, and the community. Listen in for some amazing stories of what God is doing in and through LAC! Resourc...

On the surface, it's not all that apparent what biblical counseling is. It will have a critical role to play at Alliance Bible Church for years to come so clarity is vital. Resources: https://biblicalcounseling.com/ https://myabc.church/counseling

There is so much confusion about biblical prophecy. Stating bluntly, many people don't know how to read and interpret it correctly. This short episode will provide introductory exposure to how the Scriptures themselves use prophecy.

The commonalities and differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism will likely be equally surprising to those not well-versed in what each believes. While this episode won't hit every detail, it's a good starting point to make some necessary distinctions. Resources: Catechism of the Catholic Church 40 Questions About Roman Catholicism  - Gregg Allison   Talking with Catholics...

There has been no shortage of "deconstruction" or "deconversion" stories to be found on the internet. While the words associated with it may sound new, the phenomenon has been around for centuries. Resources: The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond  - Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett

Prayer is something Christians mention often, yet it remains mysterious. We tell ourselves we need to pray more, but what exactly is it and how are we supposed to do it? Resources: Praying the Bible  - Donald S. Whitney

Another buzzword within popular culture today is "Christian Nationalism." What is it? What are its chief tenets? Tune in to this episode for an introductory answer to a growing question. Resources: Church Matters: A New Christian Authoritarianism?: Christian Nationalism, Theonomy, and Magisterial Protestantism  - Jonathan Leeman

Many of you have probably seen commercials on television that have the theme, "He Gets Us." They are intended to introduce the television viewer to Jesus. What is their message? Is it sound? Let's dive in and assess it. Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV3AnTUPiDY

Big Foot. Lochness. Area 51. "Conspiracy Theories" are all the rage today. How do we process these sorts of things from a Christian perspective?

Over the summer a number of questions came in that pertained to politics and voting. This is not only a controversial topic, it's also complicated. This episode will provide six reflections for Christians to consider as they develop a political theology. Resources: Give Honor and Vote? A Reflection on the Christian's Voting Conscience  - Robert Golding Liberty for All: Defending Everyone...

(Originally Published on August 15, 2021) Critical Race Theory (CRT) has received quite a bit of attention over the recent months. CRT fits under the broader umbrella of Critical Theory (CT), which has a rich and lengthy history. This episode will seek to trace the genealogy of this much talked about ideology.

(Originally Published on September 15, 2021) Critical Theory has "doctrine" to it; fundamental tenets that shape the ideology. This episode will explore its doctrine and offer a biblical response to it.  Resources: https://shenviapologetics.com/ Confronting Justice without Compromising Truth - Thaddeus Williams Live Not By Lies - Rod Dreher

(Originally Published on March 15, 2023) Pastors are not political pundits nor do most desire to enter the overcrowded fray of political punditry. But religion and politics may not occupy totally separate quadrants of life as some may contend. Might it be the Scriptures offer some direction for a Christian's involvement in the political world? Resources: Political Church  - Jonathan Leeman

Artificial Intelligence is all the rage these days. Some people are excited about it. Others are suspicious. Can it be useful to the global church? In this episode Dr. Don Barger surveys the role AI is having in Bible translation. Resources: https://missional.ai https://wycliffe.org https://www.sil.org https://unitedbiblesocieties.org https://btconference.org The Brian Dainsberg Podcast is taking...