Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Have you ever wondered how this podcast got started? How do Scott and Sean pick guests and topics? What's the future of this podcast? In this unique episode, Scott and Sean offer a "behind the scenes" look at their favorite episodes, some memorable stories of impact, and a few lessons they have learned since starting the podcast in 2017. Enjoy!    Read a transcript of this episode a...

Join Scott and Sean as they interview Biola's President, Dr. Barry Corey about leading a Christian university in these challenging times. You'll enjoy this encouraging and challenging time with Dr. Corey.   Dr. Barry Corey is the 8th President of Biola University, beginning his tenure here in 2007. He previously served as Dean of Gordon Conwell Seminary outside Boston for many years.  Re...

How would atheism fare if it were put on trial? Leading trial Lawyer Mark Lanier believes the evidence undermines atheism and points firmly to the existence of God. In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with Mark about how his legal training shapes the way he addresses faith questions, and they evaluate some of the evidence against atheism and for God.   Hailed as a "superstar among plaintif...

Coming out of COVID, with gatherings restricted, there is a renewed emphasis on loneliness in the culture at large. As Susan Mettes reports in her new book, The Loneliness Epidemic , many of these trends were in existence long before COVID hit but exacerbated by the 2+ years of restrictions. Join Scott and Sean for this insightful discussion that touches us all.   Susan Mettes is a behavioral scie...

Where is God when tragedy hits? Is it possible that God is at work in the world in ways we often miss? By explaining God's "common grace," Dr. Tim Muehlhoff suggests that God may be revealing himself through science, communication, art, and many more ways than we often realize. This discussion will help in one important step towards making sense of why there is suffering and evil in...

The Chosen TV series is a compelling look at the lives of Christ and his disciples. Talbot's own Dr. Doug Huffman is one of the 3 script consultants to the show. Join Scott and Sean as they talk with Doug about his role on the show and some of the behind the scenes aspects of the show that the general public is not aware of.   Dr. Doug Huffman is Division Dean of the Undergraduate Division of...

This is Part II of our session with Gavin Ortlund from his new book, Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn't: The Beauty of Christian Theism , that focuses on a specific aspect of why theism is the best explanation for the transcendent power of music-something that is recognized even by some non-theists. Join Scott for this discussion of an argument for God that you might not have conside...

Is Christian theism really believable? Does God make sense amidst our world that often doesn't? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with author Gavin Ortlund about his latest book . Dr. Ortlund argues that certain signs in nature-such as math, beauty, music, and stories-point to a meaningful, theistic world. We discuss his positive case for theism and respond to some of the most common nat...

How can a loving God be jealous, as the Bible describes? Is God envious? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with Erik Thoennes about the proper understanding of God's jealousy. According to Dr. Thoennes, godly jealousy is a misunderstood and yet beautiful attribute of God that can deeply shape our daily lives.   Erik Thoennes is committed to teaching biblical and systematic theology so th...

This episode is also available as a video on Biola's YouTube channel:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0hzJ0yGlHU     The book Jesus and John Wayne has been the topic of immense discussion over the past few months. The subtitle of the book captures the key idea developed by Kristin Kobes Du Mez: "How white evangelicals corrupted a faith and fractured a nation." She argues that th...

Rejecting both the notion of colorblindness and antiracism, Baylor University sociologist George Yancey outlines a path to genuine racial reconciliation. He provides a way forward that includes collaborative conversations and a mutual responsibility model that could overcome the shortcomings of both colorblindness and antiracism approaches. Join Scott and Sean for Part II of their conversation wit...

Rejecting both the notion of colorblindness and antiracism, Baylor University sociologist George Yancey outlines a path to genuine racial reconciliation. He provides a way forward that includes collaborative conversations and a mutual responsibility model that could overcome the shortcomings of both colorblindness and antiracism approaches. Join Scott and Sean for this stimulating two part convers...

In his new book, written with his daughter, NT scholar Scot McKnight takes on the subject of toxic church cultures-how to diagnose them and how to fix them. Their book, A Church Called Tov , outlines how to create and maintain church cultures characterized by goodness (tov) and organizational health. Join Scott and Sean as they unpack this important area for churchgoers, pastors and church leaders...

Shame has been maligned as a harmful emotion that has no place in human flourishing. But is this view correct? Is it biblical? Sean and Scott talk with Gregg Ten Elshof, a fellow Biola professor, about his latest book For Shame . Dr. Ten Elshof argues that shame is an important emotion, when experienced in the right way, to help with human flourishing in a well-ordered society.   Gregg Ten Elshof...

What does the most recent research show about how parents, teachers, youth pastors and concerned adults can pass on their faith to younger generations? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with Dr. Christian Smith about his latest book Handing Down the Faith (Oxford Press, 2021). They explore the power of parental relationships and also common reasons that prevent faith transmission.   Christian...

How to develop a life of wisdom in the midst of a culture that works against such a development? Gospel Coalition author and editor Brett McCracken provides an insightful diagnosis of our cultural moment with guidelines for developing a life characterized by wisdom. Join Sean and Scott for Brett's perceptive perspective on this important topic.   Brett McCracken is Senior Editor and Director...

Journalist Marvin Olasky tells the story of his sometimes rocky relationship with his father, the product of a good deal of fascinating research on his father after his death. Join Scott and Sean for this interview as he reflects on this relationship and what it taught him about his own role as a father to his own children.   Marvin Olasky is currently the Editor in Chief for World magazine and ha...

How do we know the Bible is trustworthy? Are the Gospels really written by the people who they are attributed to? What about contradictions? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with professor Bill Mounce about his latest book Why I Trust the Bible .   Bill is the founder and President of BiblicalTraining.org, serves on the Committee for Bible Translation (which is responsible for the NIV transl...

Religious freedom is a universal freedom, grounded in the rights of conscience. Though it is true that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world, they are not the only ones experiencing intense persecution. Join Scott as he interviews Rushan Abbas, a Uyghur Muslim, who will tell you about the experience of her people in China today, where she estimates that close to 3 million...

On December 1, 2021, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, around a Mississippi law that restricts abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Pro-life advocates view this as the best opportunity in some time to see Roe v. Wade reversed, and pro-choice supporters see this as a threat to what they consider a fundamental right of a woma...

Few subjects are more controversial today than immigration and the Christian debate reflects the discussion in the culture at large. There is still significant debate over what the Bible teaches on this subject and how the Bible's teaching should be applied. Markus Zehnder's new book, The Bible and Immigration , is a first rate resource not only on what the Bible says but how to properly...

Should we be hopeful about the post-pandemic church or concerned? Are churches growing today or dying? In this episode, we talk with Sam Rainer, a pastor and church growth expert, about these questions and more. He gives specific ways to revitalize a church regardless of its current state.   Sam Rainer is the lead pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church. He is a speaker, consultant, and the author...

The worldview of Gnosticism, which was one of the first heresies facing the first Christians, is alive and well today-and it has permeated the church. As a result, we end neglecting or disparaging our bodies, seeing them as holding us back from spiritual growth and longing for the day we will be free of them. In this episode, we talk with author and professor Greg Allison about his fascinating and...

Sarah Zagorski survived an abortion—that’s right, she survived an attempt to abort her, having been born alive as a result of a botched abortion, her mother refused to let the abortionist end her life. Join Scott and Sean for this amazing story, how that impacted Sarah and she has flourished in her life in spite of those circumstances. Her story comes from her chapter in the new book, Choose Life...

In his new book , co-authored with his wife and psychology colleague, Todd Hall and Liz Hall, lay out a new way of looking at spirituality that takes into account insights not only from the Bible, but also from psychology and the neurosciences. Join Scott and Sean for this insightful look at spiritual formation.   Todd Hall is professor of psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology , Biola Univer...