The Sword & The Trowel

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about the upcoming 2023 Southern Baptist Convention. They highlight three specific things to be aware of and praying for: the nomination of Pastor Mike Stone as SBC President, the effort by Mike Law (and 2000+ other Pastors) to amend the SBC constitution, and upholding the decision to remove Rick Warren and Saddleback Church. SHOW...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about Pride Month and how we should respond as Christian in these days of wickedness. They address the recent Ugandan law against homosexuality, the Dodgers baseball team, Ted Cruz's blasphemy, Target's catechism of our children and more. SHOW NOTES: Uganda president signs anti-homosexuality bill: https://wng.org/sift/uganda-presi...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Dr. Ben Dunson, Editor-in-Chief of the American Reformer. They discuss the current landscape of American Evangelicalism and what issues the Church is having to face right now. Where is the growing divide and what should God-fearing Christians do about it? American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org   2024 National Founder...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden welcome Dr. Voddie Baucham back on the show to discuss the current fault lines in American Evangelicalism and his recent teaching curriculum designed to help the church fight these ideologies effectively. Then they dive into some of the current debates on sphere sovereignty, *white* christian nationalism and how to engage in the public...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Dr. Joe Rigney. They discuss a little bit of his background and how he got to where he is now in his theology and ministry. Then they get his thoughts on Christian Nationalism, the concern of nominal Christianity, and the need for a robust public theology: Does he identify as a Christian Nationalist? What does a Protestant pu...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden welcome Pastor Mike Stone to talk about his recent decision to be nominated for the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Presidency. They discuss why he would be willing to run again, his heart for the SBC and the trajectory of the Convention right now. If this show was helpful for you, subscribe and share it with a friend! Mike Stone Podc...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden dive into the hotly debated subject of Christian Nationalism. They specifically look at our Baptist heritage regarding engagement in public and political theology. Spoiler: engaging in the public square isn't just for Presbyterians (nor has it been in the past). Listen to the episode to hear them explain more! If this show was helpful...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with author and Pastor Chris Marley about his newly published book: Scarlet and White. They discuss the importance of this doctrine of Christ and His church through the metaphor of the ideal husband and His princess bride. How should this impact our role as church members? How should this impact our marriages and dating relationsh...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about why they are Baptists and why they aren't in any danger of becoming paedobaptists. They dive into Baptist essentials and distinctives and how we are to engage with those with whom we disagree on these issues. For more resources on this topic of Baptist theology, make sure to check out the wealth of information stored on the...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about last week's tragic shooting at Covenant Presbyterian School in Nashville, TN that claimed the lives of 6 Christian martyrs. They examine what happened, the response by both Evangelicals and trans activists, and how the hope of the Gospel comforts and equips us for trials and persecution. If this show was helpful for you, sub...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Luke Griffo about his new book with Founders Ministries: The Beauty of the Binary: Male and Female He Created Them. Luke shares his reasoning behind writing this book and why it is such a needed resource in our culture today. The transgender movement is a direct attack on God's good and beautiful design and we need a recovery...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol sits down with Dr. James Renihan to discuss his work on Baptist Symbolics and studying Confessions of Faith. How do the 1644 and 1689 confessions differ? How did the Lord bring Dr. Renihan to do such in depth work and exposition of these documents? Why are confessions of faith important? What is their benefit, especially for churches? Make sure you list...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol sits down with Dr. Tom Nettles, Founding Faculty Member at the Institute of Public Theology, and discusses with him how we as Christians should understand History, both the good and the bad. In the light of God's providence, what should we think about this idea of "cancel culture" and the wickedness going on in the culture around us? Does the law of God...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with John and Cindy Raquet about the motivation and heart behind their book: Purposeful and Persistent Parenting: Blessing Others, Blue-Tape Boundaries, and Other Practical Perspectives on Raising Children. If this show was helpful for you, make sure to subscribe and share it with a friend! Order Purposeful and Persistent Parentin...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol sits down with Randy Starkey, Administrative Director for Founders Ministries. They talk a little bit about Randy's background and particularly his experience in pastoral ministry and the impact that Founders had on him during that season. If this show was helpful for you, make sure to subscribe and share it with a friend! 2024 National Founders Confere...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about the "Asbury Revival" happening at Asbury University in Kentucky for the last week. They work through important questions of how we discern real revival, do we see revival in Scripture, if we should consider this a true revival at Asbury and if revival is even something we should pray for and expect in our day. If this show w...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about Remembering Jesus Christ - we so often forget Christ and assume the Gospel in our teaching, our preaching and our daily christian living. They apply this to the recent "He Gets Us" Super Bowl ad campaign and discuss the danger of missing the Gospel in our attempt to proclaim Christ to a fallen world. If this show was helpful...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about the doctrine of providence. How do we interpret and respond to God's providence in the blessings and trials of our lives? How does God's sovereignty and Man's responsibility fit together in harmony? If this show was helpful for you, make sure to subscribe and share it with a friend! 2024 National Founders Conference: Remembe...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Dr. Yoram Hazony, political theorist and President of the Herzl Institute in Jerusalem. They discuss his life and background as Israeli-American philosopher, the motivation behind his book, Conservatism: A Rediscovery, and the principles that undergird a Conservative life, in contrast to the way we have been discipled by our...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Dr. Voddie Baucham about an update on his health and life in Zambia. They discuss his course at The Institute of Public Theology on Theology, Worldview and Ethics and explain why teaching on that is needed in our rapidly shifting and Godless culture. African Christian University: http://acu-usa.com FREE LIVESTREAM - 2023 Nati...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk to Russ Vought, Founder of the Center for Renewing America and former governmental official as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. They discuss the recent battle for Speaker of the House - what exactly happened and why it matters. If this show was helpful for you, make sure to subscribe and share it with a friend! Cen...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden welcome Joshua Howard to the show to discuss his upcoming book with Founders Ministries: A Primer for Conflict: Drawing a Line in the Sand. Josh shares some of his heart and reason for writing such a book and they unpack some of the content in the book. Why do we need to know how to approach conflict? Are there biblical principles to a...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about the importance and excitement of December 25th... and it's not because it's Christmas Day. Should Christians cancel church on Christmas? What does Scripture say about gathering to worship and what does it say about Christmas? Is the Lord's Day more important than your family time? They dive into all this and more. If this sh...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol welcomes Dr. Scott Callaham on the show to share an exciting announcement for IOPT. They discuss why the specific emphasis of public theology at IOPT is important among the pragmatism we see running rampant in our day. If this show was helpful for you, make sure to subscribe and share it with a friend! The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.insti...

Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about recent comments from Senator Chuck Schumer about immigration and America's lowering birth rate. They spend time thinking through these issues from a biblical worldview. How should the issue of immigration be dealt with? What does God say about children in Scripture? Should Christians be having more babies? What are some of t...