The Smith and Rowland Show

A new Bible literacy study raises a serious concern: many churchgoers struggle with foundational Scripture. In Episode 1011, Alan Smith and Pastor Jeff Rowland discuss what that means for Christian faith, discernment, and the church. The conversation considers findings from a Lifeway Research survey of more than 2,000 churchgoers. The hosts discuss the reported average quiz score of 51%, along wit...

Does JD Vance's criticism of the Iran war show loyalty to President Trump, or a break with the administration? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine the political fallout, the midterm results, and the growing debate over America's relationship with Israel. The conversation looks at Vance's comments on the war, inflation, and the Republican losses, then asks whether election strategy should outweigh...

The Smith and Rowland Show examines what Christians may give up when comfort, political interests, or calls for unity take priority over biblical truth. On Election Day, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland discuss the warning in 1 Timothy 4 about false teachers who forbid marriage and command people to abstain from certain foods. They connect that passage to current political and religious debates, includ...

Does biblical truth belong in political conversations? On this Election Day episode, Jeff Rowland and Alan Smith discuss why Christians and pastors can't ignore public issues when Scripture speaks to them. Drawing on the Bible's accounts of Moses, Esther, Daniel, John the Baptist, and Paul, they consider the church's responsibility to speak about moral questions, civil government, and the choices...

The battle over Israel is reaching into the church. Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine replacement theology, biblical promises to Israel, and the political choices Christians face in this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show. They discuss why interpretations of Israel's place in Scripture can shape Christian views of the church, the end times, and the rapture. The conversation also considers Chr...

What does the biblical principle of sowing and reaping say about France, Europe, and America? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland connect the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony to Daniel 5 and the fall of Babylon. In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan and Jeff discuss the Last Supper imagery that drew criticism during the Paris Olympics, then examine how Daniel's account of Belshazzar's fe...

Online voices are setting Jesus against Paul and challenging whether Paul's letters belong in the Bible. Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine the argument and explain why the authority of Scripture is at the heart of this debate. In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan and Jeff respond to a Prophecy News Watch article about claims that Paul contradicted Jesus, especially on sexual moral...

Can a nation believe in the supernatural while doubting the miracles at the heart of Christianity? On this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland discuss what that divide means for faith, the church, and America. The conversation centers on a report about Americans' beliefs in biblical events, including the virgin birth, the resurrection of Jesus, and the parting of the...

Seminary enrollment is falling, and churches are building their own paths to train pastors. What should biblical ministry preparation look like? On this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland discuss who should prepare the next generation of Christian leaders. They examine the decline in seminary enrollment and the growth of church-based leadership programs, apprentices...

What would truly make America great again? On The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland argue that the answer begins in the pulpit, with the preaching of Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit. They discuss the spiritual purpose they believe God gave America: sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and standing as a friend to Israel. They also look back at the Great Awakening and the e...

Seminary enrollment is falling, churches are closing, and many congregations are asking who will prepare the next generation of pastors. In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland discuss the decline in seminary enrollment and what it may mean for churches searching for pastoral leadership. They review figures cited in the program from the Association of Theological...

A Satanic invocation at an Iowa city council meeting raises serious questions about religious expression, public leadership, and the church's response. On this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland discuss a report about a former council member who opened a meeting in Ottumwa, Iowa, with a prayer ending in "Hail Satan." They examine the city's defense of the invocation...

Can artificial intelligence make moral choices, and whose values will guide it? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland consider AI through the lens of Scripture, prophecy, and Christian discernment. On this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, the hosts discuss AI agents that can evaluate requests, weigh competing interests, and refuse human instructions. They examine concerns about safeguards, the race be...

What does the Bible mean by apostasy, and how can believers recognize when they're drifting from Christ? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland discuss the difference between rejecting the faith and never having believed it, and why love for Christ's people matters. In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan and Jeff examine David Jeremiah's statement that every apostate is an unbeliever, though not...

Why are so many Christians sitting on the sidelines instead of serving? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine the falling away from church life and the call God places on every believer. In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan and Jeff discuss the decline in participation in mainline churches, the growth of independent congregations, and the need for biblical accountability in every kind...

Why are younger people returning to traditional churches while many established denominations continue to lose members? This episode examines the Episcopal Church's decline, the aging of its congregations, and the theological choices shaping the future of American churches. The hosts discuss reported figures showing Episcopal membership falling from about 3.4 million in 1960 to roughly 1.5 million...

Why are church attendance and membership falling, even as churches change to attract a wider audience? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland discuss the theological shifts they believe have weakened the church's biblical foundations. In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, they examine declining membership in mainline denominations and consider changes around biblical authority, salvation, the unique...

What happens when churches change their theology to fit the culture? In Episode 987, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine the decline of mainline Protestant churches and question whether progressive theological changes achieved their intended purpose. The discussion looks at the historic influence of denominations such as the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (U...