The Ephesiology Podcast

On this episode of  The Ephesiology Podcast , Andrew and Michael are joined by Brad Brisco, missional strategist and leading voice in co-vocational church planting. Brad shares insights from decades of experience mobilizing church planters, and why the growing reality of   co-vocational leadership is not just a necessity—but a strategic, theological return to how the early church engaged in missio...

Is AI helping us flourish as humans—or quietly unraveling the very things that make us human in the first place? In this episode of the  Ephesiology Podcast , ethicist and cultural commentator Dr. C. Ben Mitchell joins Michael and Andrew for a deeply reflective conversation on artificial intelligence, ethics, embodiment, and what it means to bear God’s image in a tech-saturated world. From Ch...

On this episode of  The Ephesiology Podcast , Andrew and Michael talk with Dr. Danny Hays, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Ouachita Baptist University and expert in Old Testament and archaeology. They explore the fascinating world of early Christian graffiti, focusing particularly on the  Ichthus Christogram—an eight-spoked symbol etched into ancient marble as a bold declaration of faith...

On this episode of  The Ephesiology Podcast , Andrew and Michael talk with Dr. Mark Fairchild, retired professor of Bible and Religion at Huntington University and renowned biblical archaeologist. They explore one of the most fascinating discoveries in early Christian history: the underwater basilica of Nicaea. Together, they unpack the rich spiritual and historical significance of ancient Turkey...

On this episode of  The Ephesiology Podcast , Andrew and Michael sit down Dr. Emanuel Prinz—researcher, author, practitioner, professor, and soon-to-be PhD in International Theological Education. With stories of rebel leaders laying down their weapons and whole villages turning to Christ, Emanuel invites us into a world where communal conversion, catalytic leadership, and the slow work of the...

On this episode of  The Ephesiology Podcast , Andrew and Michael dive into the soil, stones, and stories of Asia Minor to uncover how the early church lived out its faith amid empire, beauty, and persecution. Join us as we welcome guests Michelle Wegner, Dave Brunelle, and Wade Mantlo—fellow travelers who recently returned from a transformative archaeological tour across Turkey. What they enc...

On this episode of  The Ephesiology Podcast , Andrew and Michael sit down with a church planter and missional leader in Canada to discuss what it means to plant churches in one of the most secular cities in Canada—Victoria, British Columbia. He shares his journey from planting a Soma church in the suburbs to moving into an urban neighborhood where traditional church models have largely disappeared...

On this episode of  The Ephesiology Podcast , Andrew and Michael are joined by Kathy Richards Bhatia, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at  She Is Safe . Kathy shares her extraordinary journey—growing up in the Middle East, witnessing war firsthand, and carrying on her family’s legacy of peace and presence among the world’s most marginalized. She sheds light on the...

On this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael are joined again by Pastor Caleb Campbell, author of  Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor as they discuss what it means to be the Church in a moment of extreme political and cultural division? Together, they wrestle with the pastoral challenges of shepherding congregations split between celebration and fear,...

As  The Ephesiology Podcast  kicks off its 2025 season, we find ourselves reflecting on an unexpected journey—190 episodes deep into conversations about theology, culture, and the mission of God. What started as a simple idea to explore the themes of  Ephesiology  has evolved into a global dialogue, connecting like-minded thinkers, pastors, and missiologists who long to see the church faithfully e...

Merry Christmas and Happy Advent! In this final  Ephesiology Podcast  episode of 2024, Andrew and Michael reflect on the joy and meaning of the Christmas season, share highlights from the year—including the  Make Disciples  series, the success of the PhD Scholarship Drive, and exciting updates like a forthcoming Spanish translation of  Ephesiology —and offer a glimpse into 2025 plans, including ne...

On this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael are stepping into something truly transformative: an opportunity to empower global theological education. Michael returns from an exciting research trip to Asia Minor, sharing insights about the early church while introducing an unprecedented initiative—providing scholarships for PhD students in the Majority World to equip and raise up...

On this episode of  The 10-Minute Ephesiologist , Dr. Michael T. Cooper unpacks the challenges missionaries face when theological education feels too academic or even pride-inducing, leaving them unprepared for real-world ministry. Dr. Cooper proposes a new, balanced approach to training—one that blends intellectual depth with practical skills and a humble heart for service. Could this model...

In this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael conclude a multi-part series entitled This Political Moment with author and pastor Caleb Campbell. His recent book,  Disarming Leviathan , discusses the complexities of Christian nationalism. Caleb shares the journey behind his book, opening up about his struggle with cultural polarization within his church and the relational losses th...

In this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael continue a multi-part series entitled This Political Moment by exploring the kingdom of God and its political implications. We are joined once more by retired missionary Dr. Ron Hesselgrave and missionary Jim Baker for the final discussion in the series . Together, they explore Patrick Schreiner’s  Political Gospel , tacklin...

In this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael continue a multi-part series This Political Moment by exploring of the kingdom of God and its political implications. Joined again by Dr. Ron Hesselgrave and Jim Baker, the discussion takes a deep dive into Patrick Schreiner’s Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World . The conversation explores how the early...

In this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael continue a multi-part series This Political Moment by exploring of the kingdom of God and its political implications. Kicking off with a discussion on “Reimagining Politics with Jesus” they are joined by guests Dr. Ron Hesselgrave and Jim Baker, veteran missionaries and scholars. Their conversation centers on Patrick Schrei...

On this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael are joined by special guest Steve Besner, senior pastor of Houston Northwest Church. Steve’s insights on how the church can navigate today’s divisive political landscape are both timely and profound. He shares his motivation behind his recent book Your Jesus is Too American , exploring how the church must reclaim kingdom va...

On this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, we dive into the complexity of engaging with politics while keeping our focus on Jesus and His mission. Join Andrew and Michael as they introduce a new series focusing on why, despite the overwhelming political climate, the church must resist being swayed by culture. Expect thought-provoking discussions on how politics impacts our global witness, and how...

On this Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael wrap up our 12-week series  Innovative Disruption: Recalibrating Our Mission to the Movement of God.  This final episode explores the culmination of our journey—redefining how we think about mission by starting with God’s mission on moving to people. We’ll unpack the importance of remaining curious about what God is doing in the...

On this Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael conclude the discussion on the concept of adaptive ecclesiology by exploring how the early church adapted to various cultural contexts while preserving its core meaning. Join us as we examine the crucial distinction between form and meaning, and how adapting the church to different cultures can help it thrive. We’ll also challenge the idea of a monol...

On this Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael dive more deeply into adaptive ecclesiology, discussing how the Church can mirror Christ in every culture. We’ll explore how the early Church adapted to its cultural contexts—and what that means for us today. Stay with us as we unpack how churches can move from captive methodologies to adaptive, theocentric expressions of faith that reflect God’s wor...

On this Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael begin to explore the concept of adaptive ecclesiology, challenging the traditional view of the church as a static institution. They dive into how the early church, rooted in the teachings of Jesus, adapted to different cultural contexts, showing that the true essence of the ekklesia is the gathering of God’s people—whether in a synagogue, a hom...

On this Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michae lcontinue our journey through the series Innovative Disruption: Recalibrating Our Mission to the Movement of God. In this eighth episode, Michael and Andrew delve into the final part of missiological theology. They discuss the evolving nature of theology, shaped by cultural contexts and the need for curiosity, wonder, and discovery in engaging with di...

On this Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael delve deeper into missiological theology, which integrates Biblical, systematic, and historical theologies to understand how scriptural principles apply in today’s cultural context. This approach isn’t about creating a new theology but viewing historic concepts through a missiological lens to ensure they resonate with contemporary culture in me...