Viewpoint - The Bible and Culture

How do we protect the vulnerable - children and the elderly - from the growing and ever-changing threats surrounding the internet and social media? How can Christian parents and caretakers walk in wisdom in this area, and how can we also advocate for laws and cultural shifts that will bring an end to exploitation? These are the questions we take on in this live Viewpoint class session from May of...

How do we think biblically about war - especially war in the Middle East? Are these events tied to biblical prophecy about end times? And most importantly, how do we have conversations with people who are fearful or anxious and point them to the hope of the gospel? This episode features a live class session held at Highlands Church and hosted by pastors Joe Infranco and Ed Lutz, discussing the rec...

Artificial Intelligence tools are finding their way into every aspect of life, from our phones to our cars, inboxes, photos and beyond. But what about church? Can A.I. aid in faithful Bible study? Should pastors use A.I. to help write sermons? Should church members turn to A.I. for answers to questions about faith, the Bible and Christianity? This episode features a live class session that discuss...

What do the recent acts of violence in our country show us about the deep brokenness in our culture? What opportunities do we have as Christians to bring the hope of the Gospel to a nation that is hurting, confused, fearful, angry and looking for answers? In this live class session held at Highlands Church, our panel of pastors takes a deeper look at the events surrounding the murder of Charlie Ki...

What does it mean to "be a man"? Our culture is wrestling with all kinds of definitions - from the hyper-masculine on one side to those on the other who claim there is no defining characteristics and we can completely decide for ourselves. But what does the Bible say about what it means to be a man? What does God's created order have to do with it? What characteristics should men aspire to? Dr. Je...

How does someone raised in the Islamic faith hear the message of the gospel? In this live Viewpoint class session recording, Pastor Joe Infranco is joined by special guest Al Fadi, who came to the U.S. as a Muslim and was led to faith in Jesus Christ. Al shares his conversion story, and about the family and cultural pressures that he and others encountered afterward. His experience gives us great...

Our culture presents us with a steady view of the supernatural, especially in TV and movies. Stories range from how angels get their wings to gruesome horror portrayals of dark spirits. But what does the Bible actually teach on the spiritual dimension and human interaction with this unseen realm? Are there things we can know for sure? As Christians, how much should we be thinking about the spiritu...

Should Christians use someone's preferred pronouns? This is a question made complicated by our culture's ever-changing ideas around identity. What happens when a friend or family member asks you to refer to them using a pronoun that's opposite of their biological sex? Should you agree out of respect? Or is that denying a fundamental truth about who God made them to be? Joe and Brendan take a tour...

Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in our culture. The political and media machinery of our society often exploit the issue for their own gain, trying to convince us that we can either be in favor of women or in favor of unborn children, but not both. We can quickly lose sight of the true human cost: women who are in crisis, and unborn children who are losing their lives. This episode bre...

How should Christians vote? Does the Bible provide insight on how we should engage in the political process? What if you like a candidate's policies, but struggle with their character? In a culture that continues to drift further from biblical values, is the political process even worth our time? We'll take on these questions and more as we take a biblical tour of how God has worked through leader...

What kind of school should Christians send their kids to? The U.S. provides a wide range of choice when it comes to educating kids - and our home state of Arizona is one of the most school-choice-friendly places in the nation, with financial support for any number of choices. So how does a parent decide which path to take?  Is public school too progressive? Is private school too exclusive? Is home...

What kind of school should Christians send their kids to? The U.S. provides a wide range of choice when it comes to educating kids - and our home state of Arizona is one of the most school-choice-friendly places in the nation, with financial support for any number of choices. So how does a parent decide which path to take?  Is public school too progressive? Is private school too exclusive? Is home...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking the world by storm, transforming businesses, education, and life all around us - including the church. Rapid change from revolutionary technology brings new opportunities, but it also brings many questions and even fears. Some believe AI will be as significant of a change for our world as the automobile or the internet. How should Christians view and respond...

Where does our understanding of who we are come from? Our culture tries to convince us to base our identity in lots of things - our work, our family, our economic status, and even our sexual desires and orientation. But the Bible tells a different story about our identity and what God's design says about our desires and feelings.  Our guests Garry and Melissa Ingraham, founders of Love & Truth...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly finding its way into many aspects of our lives, whether we’re even aware of it or not. As Christians, how should we think about AI?  Is it just another technology tool like Television or the Internet? Or is there something more to it that we need to be thinking about?  Is AI something we should be suspicious of, or should we embrace it? How about this - does...

The attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7th shocked the world. The resulting war between Israel and Gaza has sparked debate and conflict across people and cultures worldwide. How do we respond to this as Christians? What are the possible prophetic implications? This episode features a live class session hosted by Joe Infranco, Highlands' Pastor of Adult Education. Joe covers the history of the na...

How do we best love our neighbors with disabilities? One simple but often overlooked way is to assume competence - interacting in a way that assumes the other person can receive and comprehend even if they can’t physically demonstrate that comprehension. In a culture that claims to value the vulnerable and marginalized, the practice of assuming competence in another person can unfortunately be rar...

As Christians, how do we decide what’s “okay” to watch on TV or in movies? Our culture is over-saturated with content that often includes heavy doses of violence, strong language, or varying degrees of sexual content. Is our choice simply a matter of the age rating? Is this an area of Christian freedom?  How can the Bible help guide our viewing decisions? And isn’t the Bible itself full of violent...

Physician assisted suicide has major implications for the way our culture views the value of human life. As governments around the world open the door to physician assisted suicide as a form of medical care, how can Christians bring the perspective of God's value of each human life to the discussion, or even to the voting booth? On a personal level, what happens if a family member expresses a desi...

Physician assisted suicide is rapidly becoming an available, legal - and sometimes even promoted - option for people experiencing pain, suffering or hardship. But as Christians who believe all life is sacred and created in the image of God, the implications of offering or promoting the idea of ending life before someone's natural death are tragic. Dr. Jim Benecke returns as a guest of Joe and Bren...

More people than ever in our culture are expressing a desire to change their gender. What does the Bible say about that desire?  More importantly, how can Christians engage with those who want to change genders in a way that ministers to them with both grace and truth? And how can parents navigate transgender culture as it affects young people, schools and beyond? In this episode, Joe and Brendan...

Should a Christian website designer be required to create a website with a message that is contrary to their beliefs about same-sex marriage? The Supreme Court made a decision that has caused many in the LGBTQ community to claim discrimination - but is that what's really happening? What happens when a creative professional - Christian or otherwise - is hired to create something containing a messag...

Pain and suffering are inevitable as we live life in a broken world. How do we cope when life gets unbearable? Why would a good and loving God allow His creation to suffer? How does Christianity's view of suffering compare to other world views? Joe and Brendan welcome guest Dr. Jim Benecke who shares his experience as a father who lost a son to cancer as well as a doctor who has walked with patien...

Can you be spiritual without formal religion like Christianity? What does the Bible have to say about spirituality apart from the gospel? What about things like yoga, 'good vibes' or other non-Christian spiritual practices that seem harmless? How about 'spiritual' media like Harry Potter or Star Wars? Joe and Brendan continue their conversation with Anne and Paul who were once both heavily involve...

Can you be spiritual without formal religion like Christianity? The number of people in the U.S. who would say they're "spiritual, but not religious" is growing rapidly. Belief in God is being replaced by experiences with nature, psychic readings, tarot cards, spirit quests and more. What does the Bible have to say about spirituality apart from the gospel? Joe and Brendan welcome guests Anne Andru...