Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

How did we come to believe virtually universally in concepts such as freedom, equality and compassion? How did those concepts come to be part of the “air we breathe” today? Join Scott and Sean in this fascinating interview with pastor and evangelist Glen Scrivener about his new book The Air We Breathe .  Glen Scrivener is an ordained Church of England minister and evangelist who preaches Christ th...

Jack Phillips was taken before Colorado Civil Rights Commission for refusing to design a custom cake for a same-sex wedding. The case went to the Supreme Court and his side won. In this interview, Sean asks Jack to share his reasons for not designing the cake, but also his journey to faith and why he started the bakery in the first place. Jack shares how his faith informs everything he does. This...

Today's episode is also available as a video on Biola's YouTube channel.     How can Christians navigate the difficult ethical issues that plague this generation? How can followers of Jesus stand for truth in a way that is loving to their neighbors? Scott interviews Sean about his latest book: A Rebel’s Manifesto . They discuss how Christians can rebel against certain cultural expectatio...

What does the Bible have to say to a culture obsessed with body image, hookup sex, abortion and alternative sexualities? Jen Oshman identifies the empty promises the culture has made to us, especially women, and gives us a way forward that is faithful to the gospel. Join Scott and Sean for this interview, in which Jen also suggests that even marriage and motherhood can become idols making empty pr...

Why would a Navy Seal come to faith? How would he reconcile questions about the use of violence with his Christian beliefs? These are just a few of the questions Sean explores with Chad Williams, former Navy Seal. This bonus episode was first recorded on Sean's YouTube channel , but falls right in line with typical content we have on the Think Biblically podcast.  Chad Williams is a frequent...

Is evangelical faith in decline today?  Is abortion the main political issue for Christians?  Do pastors talk about politics too much from their pulpits?  Political scientist Ryan Burge upends much of the conventional wisdom about the mixture of religion and politics.  Join Sean and Scott as they discuss Dr. Burge's surprising findings about the intersection of Christian faith and politics. ...

Did God sanction genocide in the Old Testament?  The biblical passages concerning the Israelites and Canaanites are some of the most challenging texts in all of Scripture and have been a major stumbling block for people interested in Christian faith and a difficult one for followers of Jesus to answer.  Join Scott and Sean as they talk with Talbot colleague and OT professor, Dr. Charlie Trimm, as...

Do miracles still happen today? How would we recognize a miracle as genuine? In this bonus episode, which Sean recorded on his YouTube channel, J.P Moreland discusses his latest book . Then they take live questions at the end from both believers and skeptics.  JP Moreland is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He is the author of multiple books inc...

** This episode is also available as a video on Biola's YouTube channel **    How important is unity for Christians today? What issues and circumstances should we divide over? In this discussion, Scott and Sean offer some biblical insights about unity in the church today. They discuss what issues we should "die on" and what issues we should seek unity over.    Read a transcript of t...

What does it mean to think like Jesus? How can Christians better learn to use logic to discover truth and avoid "fake news"? In this interview, Sean talks with Dr. Travis Dickinson about his latest book . They discuss why critical thinking is so important today, what it means to love God with our minds, and some practical steps for recognizing faulty thinking.  Travis Dickinson, Ph. D. i...

What is cancel culture and why is it so prevalent today? How should Christians respond to the phenomenon of canceling people? In this bonus episode, Sean interviews Joe Dallas about his latest book Christians In A Cancel Culture . This episode was recorded on Sean's YouTube channel, which is in partnership with the Biola Apologetics program.  Joe Dallas is an author, speaker, and pastoral cou...

How strong is the archaeological and historical evidence for Jesus and the Gospels? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with Dr. Titus Kennedy, a field archaeologist and adjunct professor at Biola, about his latest book: Excavating the Evidence for Jesus . They discuss some of the key discoveries that offer illumination and historical support for key events in the life, ministry, and burial of...

What is critical theory and why is it so influential today? How might Christians respond to current controversies surrounding gender and race? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with philosopher Doug Groothuis about his latest book Fire in the Streets . Dr. Groothuis defines critical race theory, explains some of its history, and discusses how Christians can best respond.  Douglas Groothuis, P...

After many years of study and experience of how people come to faith in Christ, professor Tim Yoder proposed what he calls “action apologetics,” a powerful way of bearing witness to the gospel by acts of love, charity, justice and sacrifice, to supplement traditional intellectual apologetics. Join Scott for this discussion of the various means of defending the truth and goodness of Christian faith...

So much of our spiritual formation comes when we’re not thinking about it—in the course of our everyday lives.  Understanding the role of “ordinary life” in shaping us spiritually is so important.  We realize that “ordinary life” may sound boring, but this session with our friend and theologian Dr. Brent Waters is anything but that!  Join Scott and Sean as they explore an area you might not have t...

What are the best steps to find a meaningful life? What can we learn from the most influential thinkers in history about how to find truth and meaning? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with Os Guinness about his latest book: The Great Quest . Os shares his personal journey to faith and they discuss practical ways for living an examined life.  Os Guinness is an author and social critic. He ha...

In this bonus episode, Sean talks with progressive Christian pastor Colby Martin about Scripture and same-sex unions. They discuss what the Bible says and how Christians can best love their LGBTQ neighbors. This episode was first recorded on Sean's YouTube channel and is longer than typical interviews here. But if you enjoy our regular interviews, you will love this one too.  Colby Martin is...

What do we say to some of the hard questions skeptics raise about the Bible? Some of the Bible is hard to understand and gives us pretty tough questions to answer. Dan Kimball, author of How Not to Read the Bible , goes through some of these hard questions and gives answers that make sense. Join Scott and Sean for this insightful interview about his new book.  Dan Kimball is Pastor for Mission and...

What exactly is the connection between Darwinian evolutionary theory and what is often called “social Darwinism” that emerged out of it—that includes eugenics and race based selection and preferences. Historian Richard Weikart has been with us before on the ideological roots of Naziism, and he extends his past work to connect the philosophy underlying Darwinian evolutionary theory and the race bas...

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus today? What unique challenges do Christians face in our present culture and how can we grow in our faith in our present moment? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with pastor Jim Putman about his latest book The Revolutionary Disciple . They discuss unique challenges that Christians face today in the church and family and what barriers often prevent...

Is the gospel really inclusive for all people? What does the Bible really say about LGBTQ relationships?    In this discussion, which can also be watched on Biola's YouTube channel , Sean and Scott discuss a recent book that makes an affirming case for same-sex unions. The book is The Gospel of Inclusion by Brandan J. Robertson . They discuss the most common arguments for LGBTQ inclusion by c...

Many people consider the "American Dream" to be the goal of someone trying to get out of poverty. Both in the US and around the world, we have found that simply having more material goods doesn't necessarily lead to increased happiness. Join Scott and Sean for part II of Scott's earlier discussion with economist Dr. Brian Fikkert, as he critiques some of the most prominent pove...

Economics touches virtually every aspect of our lives on this side of eternity. Not surprisingly, the Bible has a great deal to say about economic life. How we think about economic life from a Christian worldview is a critical part of our engagement with our culture and helps us understand what it means to love our neighbors. Join Scott for this insightful discussion with economist Brian Fikkert a...

Roe vs. Wade (1973) was one of the most consequential Supreme Court rulings in America history, allowing abortion in all 50 states. It appears that the Supreme Court is overturning this case. A rough draft of the ruling was recently leaked to the public. In this discussion, which was recorded live on Sean's YouTube channel, Scott and Sean discuss the implications of the ruling and analyze the...

This podcast episode is also available as a video on Biola's YouTube channel:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvSlsNMJkB4     Biblically speaking, is our biological sex an essential part of our identity? Are there unique differences and roles for men and women? In this live interview, Sean and Scott talk with Biola professor Erik Thoennes and Scripture and gender. They also discuss some pr...