The Commonwealth Matters

On this special Christmas episode of The Commonwealth Matters, we take a step back from the hustle and bustle of the season to reflect on its true meaning. Amid gift-giving, parties, and festive decorations, it’s easy to forget the central focus of Christmas: Christ Himself. Joining us this week to talk about the character of Christ and the deep theology behind of our great Christmas carols is Jon...

What would you do if your child’s school library contained books that were inappropriate for children? For our guest Miranda Stovall, this was not a hypothetical situation. After discovering explicit books in her child’s middle school library in Louisville, she took action—but found no support from teachers, principals, or the school board. Joining Miranda is Beanie Geoghegan, her co-founder of Fr...

America faces its toughest economic challenges in decades: record-high inflation, a staggering $35 trillion federal debt, and heavy-handed regulations that threaten to stifle growth. These conditions set the stage for Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency. But what’s the way forward? How can the federal government create policies that foster economic growth and prosperity? Joining us to talk furth...

Thanksgiving is a cherished American tradition, filled with turkey, pumpkin pie, and football, but have you ever stopped to wonder what we’re truly celebrating? Is it just about family and food, or the story we learned in school about Pilgrims and Indians sharing a feast? How accurate is the history we’ve been told? In this episode, we explore the true story behind the first Thanksgiving and exami...

In this episode, we dive into the the 2024 presidential election, where Donald Trump secured a significant victory over Kamala Harris with 312 electoral votes. Reflecting on an analysis written the day before the election, we explore the key factors that tipped the scales, including voter sentiment and the impact of Democratic policy priorities. You can read Richard Nelson's article, "Voter Anger,...

School choice was dealt a blow in Kentucky when Amendment 2 went down in flames on election day by nearly 2 to 1 margin. Voters rejected the idea that Kentucky parents should have some kind of choice in education by teacher deception and misinformation about the amendment, and it was funded by the National Educational Association. Was defeat of Amendment 2 good for Kentucky? Big education hasn’t d...

In this week's episode, we dive into a pressing question: Is overpopulation the true challenge we face, or is depopulation a more urgent concern? To discuss this important issue, we are joined by Lyman Stone, a senior fellow and Director of the Pronatalism Initiative at the Institute for Family Studies, and the Chief Information Officer at Demographic Intelligence. Lyman has extensively studied gl...

Election day is next week (Nov. 5, early voting begins Oct. 31)! Also on the ballot in Kentucky is Amendment 2, which would open up the opportunity of school choice to parents across the Commonwealth. Yet, there’s strong opposition and misinformation going around. To learn more about the amendment go here . To view other election resources, including voter guides, go here . Is school choice a good...

To what extent should Christians be engaged in politics? Do Christians have a responsibility to vote? And what if there are two bad choices at the top of the ticket? Joining us to discuss this issue further is pastor and author Bob Russell. Bob is the former pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, the author of a number of books, and has a mentorship ministry to younger pastors. To vie...

With Election Day fast approaching on Tuesday, November 5th, the choices we make will shape our nation’s future—from the presidency to Congress and to state leaders. In this episode, we explore how Christians can thoughtfully engage in the public arena, guided by distinctly Christian principles. Join us as we unpack biblical tenets that offer a clear, Christian perspective for you to apply this el...

Is there a moral foundation to free market capitalism? Does virtue play a critical role in its success? And how has the Christian worldview influenced wealth creation in the United States? In this week's episode, we explore these important questions with Dave Brat, former congressman from Virginia and current Vice Provost for Engagement & Public Relations at Liberty University. Join us as we e...

Is school choice a good thing for families and children? Will it improve education outcomes? Amendment 2 is on the Kentucky ballot on November 5th and it would open up the opportunity of choice to parents across the Commonwealth, but there’s strong opposition and misinformation. Joining us to talk about this important amendment is Dr. Gary Houchens, professor of Education Administration and Direct...

Most crime, including murder and sexual assault, is done by men. Are men toxic? Are they inherently violent and inferior to women? These are some of the questions we’ll try to answer in this week’s edition of the Commonwealth Matters. We are joined by Professor Nancy Pearcey, author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes . She is professor and scholar-in-residence a...

How is Kentucky doing economically compared to other states? Do we find meaning and purpose in our work?  And what does it look like to have a healthy economy and flourishing people? On this week's episode of the Commonwealth Matters, CPC Exec. Director Richard Nelson discusses how Kentucky can have a growing economy based on biblical principles. He also discusses CPC's upcoming conference...

Are you a pastor wondering how to address sensitive political issues with your church? Have you felt uncertain in the voting booth and wondered how to fulfill your civic duties without violating your conscience? Do you want to know how to speak to—and be heard by—your local city council or school board? The Scriptures help us answer all of these questions   so that we may submit to the Lordship of...

A recent MSNBC article claimed that Donald Trump uses Christianity as a political prop to advance a theocracy and Kamala Harris practices the Christian faith she was raised in and embraces pluralism. Many on the Left call the Right Christian nationalists, and paint Christian nationalism as an existential threat to America, democracy, and the Church. Is this correct? To talk with us about this impo...

As power outages become increasingly common across the nation, particularly in states phasing out coal-fired power plants, many are left questioning the reliability of our electrical grid. In Kentucky, a winter storm a few years ago led to rolling blackouts, highlighting the vulnerabilities in our power supply. Are we taking our electricity reliability for granted? What will the future hold for en...

The church should be a place of hope and healing for broken sinners. But what happens when the church fails at its mission, is no longer safe, and there's a sexual predator who is a leader in the local church? These questions aren't theoretical, but was a reality in LexCity Church in Lexington, KY. To help us think through these difficult issues is Robert Cunningham, former pastor at Tates...

Too many Americans have a low view of work today. Work has become devalued, and it is seen as something we unfortunately have to do to live. But is this how God and the Bible views work? Are we meant to work and is work the meaning of life? David Bahnsen, founder of the Bahnsen Group, joins us this week to discuss his new book  Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life . If you would like to intervi...

What is leadership? How do you become a leader? What biblical principles can leaders integrate into their lives and work? To talk further about biblical leadership is Todd Gray, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and host of the podcast "Leadership Lessons." If you would like to interview Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, please...

School choice (or educational freedom) is on the ballot this November in Kentucky. Kentuckians will vote for a constitutional amendment to allow more educational opportunities for parents, students, and teachers. Proponents of school choice say that this will empower parents with better opportunities that fit the needs of their children. To talk further about this important topic is Martin Cothran...

According to a recent report, the Social Security Fund Reserve will run out by 2035. This means that something needs to be done within 9 years for retirees to receive their full benefits. To talk further about the need for fiscal responsibility in our federal government is Dr. Mark Warshawsky, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He focuses on Social Security and retirement...

Is marriage an out-of-date institution? Does it get in the way of happiness and fulfillment? To talk further about the importance of marriage to individuals, families, and society, Dr. Brad Wilcox of the University of Virginia joins us to discuss his latest book  Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization . If you would like to interview Richard N...

How should Christians engage the culture? And should Christians engage politically? To help us think through these important questions with help from the wisdom of the early Church, we are joined by Dr. Stephen Presley to discuss his latest book  Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church . Dr. Presley is a professor of Church History at The Southern Baptist Theological Semi...

Americans pushed back against big businesses like Target and Bud Light when they entered the culture war. But what do we do when businesses target conservative organizations and individuals? To discuss these issues, we are joined this week by Daniel Cameron, former Attorney General of Kentucky and CEO of the 1792 Exchange, an organization dedicated to protecting free speech, religious liberty, and...