Voxology

How sermon-centric church models are limiting spiritual formation—and what we should consider doing instead. In this episode, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie Lewis serve up laughter, listener mail, and meaningful critique as they unpack everything from naming conventions to how churches center around teaching rather than transformation. Plus, Mike sits down with Skye Jethani (Holy Post podcast...

How the Apostle Paul's cosmic vision of salvation reshapes everything we thought we knew. Mike, Bonnie, and Tim sit down with Pauline scholar Dr. Tim Gombis to talk about one massive question: why did Jesus have to die? What begins as a conversation about atonement turns into an hour-plus deep-dive into how Paul viewed salvation, sin, and the church—not as individual concerns, but as cosmic realit...

How should followers of Jesus approach mental health in a way that's faithful, honest, and deeply human? In this vulnerable and theology-rich conversation, Mike Erre, Bonnie Lewis, and Tim Stafford unpack the complexities of mental illness through a biblical lens. Building a positive theology of mental health, they respond to a viral Christian post that stigmatized mental illness among pastors—par...

How a wider vision of God, a richer gospel, and a reenchanted faith can help restore your wonder and reignite your purpose. This special episode of Voxology, featuring Mike Erre's conversation with Alan Hirsch and Mark Nelson, kicks off the Reframation Series with a deeply challenging and encouraging blueprint for recovering the beauty of Jesus and the mission of the Church. Borrowing from Hirsch...

Unpacking how Jesus is the clearest revelation of God and the essential key to interpreting the Old Testament with clarity, compassion, and consistency, Mike, Tim, and Bonnie wrap up their "BONNIE Strikes Back" series with a thoughtful and humor-filled reflection on scripture. This episode explores how reading the Bible as a unified narrative centered on Jesus reframes how we engage with the more...

How understanding the heart behind biblical generosity can reshape your relationship with money, discipleship, and community. In this fourth episode of the Voxology Q&A Series, Mike, Tim, and Bonnie dive deep into the topic of tithing—addressing how it was practiced in the Old Testament, its evolution through the early church, and what generosity looks like in the life of a Jesus follower today. M...

A thought-provoking conversation that unpacks the foundations, expressions, and challenges of Reformed Theology from a pastoral and personal lens. Responding to listener Sarah's question, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie dive deep into the theology behind Calvinism, discussing both its fruit and its fallout. They explore how theological systems can sometimes shrink our view of Jesus and grapple...

Unpacking one of the most debated practices within Christianity, Mike, Bonnie, and Tim tackle the tension between infant baptism and believer baptism in this heartfelt installment of the Voxology Q & A Series. Rooted in the question, "Does baptism mark the beginning of our faith journey—or respond to it?", the conversation explores the theological, historical, and pastoral dimensions of baptizing...

What books have most influenced your faith, theology, and spiritual growth? In this first installment of a new Listener Q&A mini-series, Mike, Tim, and Bonnie answer a listener question about the books that have made the biggest impact on their spiritual formation. From classics like C.S. Lewis to modern voices like Rachel Held Evans and Tim Keller, you'll walk away with a fresh stack of reading r...

How reading the Bible alongside survivors of sexual abuse can transform our understanding of Scripture, the church, and the mission of Jesus. Mike Erre sits down with theologian, pastor, and former Duke Divinity School dean Dr. Elaine Heath to discuss her powerful new book, Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse: Reading the Bible with Survivors . Digging into themes of trauma, patriarchal theology, t...

How the enemy-making machine has wormed its way into our churches—and how to dismantle it with spiritual discernment, humility, and a commitment to personal and communal reformation. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by theologian and author David Fitch to explore themes from his book "The Church of Us vs. Them: Freedom from a Faith That Feeds on Making Enemies." Fitch presents a powerful crit...

How stepping away from evangelical subculture doesn't always mean walking away from Jesus. Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, Bonnie, and special guest Andy Laura reunite for a raw and candid discussion on the rising wave of public deconstruction stories, including those of Josh Harris and Marty Sampson. They explore how rigid Christian systems often leave no space for doubt, grief, or change—and what a hea...

How Paul's vision of the cross calls the church to resist domineering power structures and create a radically different community rooted in the kingdom of God. In this fifth installment of the Exile Series, Mike Erre and special guest Dr. Timothy Gombis unpack a deeply political and countercultural lens for following Jesus, grounding the conversation in Paul's letters and the gospel of Mark. Hear...

How can Jesus-followers respond to tragedies like the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton in faithful, transformative ways? In this raw and reflective episode, Mike Erre, Bonnie, and Tim wrestle honestly with their grief, anger, and frustration in the wake of yet another national tragedy. They push back on empty Christian clichés, challenge politically entrenched responses, and instead offer a vi...

A deep dive into how interpreting scripture through a 21st-century lens can distort its original context and nuance, using the story of the Syrophoenician woman in Matthew 15 as a prime example. Mike, Bonnie, and Tim engage in a thoughtful and expansive conversation about what happens when modern theological frameworks—particularly around gender, power, and sexuality—are retroactively applied to a...

How seeing the book of Romans through the lens of justice, grief, and empire can radically reshape our faith and community. In their compelling conversation with Mike, Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat discuss their book "Romans Disarmed," a subversive and creative take on Paul's epistle that blends biblical exegesis with lament, narrative fiction, and political reflection. Through an intentional he...

How the biblical command to love the stranger challenges political assumptions, reshapes our view of immigration, and offers a new path forward. Mike, Tim, and Bonnie launch the Immigration Series by welcoming Matthew Soerens, author of "Welcoming the Stranger" and U.S. Director of Church Mobilization with World Relief, for a thoughtful, honest, and compassionate discussion at the intersection of...

Want to know how to interpret the Bible with humility and maturity in a fractured and polarized culture? This deep-dive conversation between Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, Bonnie, and returning guest Tim Gombis continues the "Misunderstanding the Bible" series by peeling back the layers on hermeneutics, historical assumptions, interpretive power dynamics, and the posture Christians bring to Scripture. T...

How embracing spiritual homelessness can lead to deeper maturity, richer community, and a more authentic vision of Jesus. In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie dive into the emails and reflections flowing from their recent "Spiritually Homeless" and "Future of the Church" conversations. Together, they unpack tough theological questions, critique...

Recovering Paul's radical gospel for today's church, Mike Erre sits down with Pauline scholar Dr. Timothy Gombis for an honest and theologically rich conversation that peels back cultural assumptions and reexamines the complexities—and power—of Paul's letters. From ancient household codes to modern questions about gender, race, power, and sexuality, Mike and Dr. Gombis explore how Paul's vision of...

How do we rediscover the bold, persistent faith that moves God to act? In this special bonus episode, Mike Erre shares a powerful message on prayer originally delivered as a sermon—highlighting Jesus' teaching in Luke 11 about "shameless audacity" and its role in how we approach God. With encouragement from Tim Stafford, this episode revisits Mike's prior work as a teaching pastor to dive deeper i...

How does the church navigate a shifting cultural and theological landscape in the next 20 years? In this landmark 200th episode—affectionately dubbed "Bruce"—Mike and Tim are joined by longtime friend and thought leader Skye Jethani (Holy Post, With God Daily) to explore the future of Christianity in America. With Skye's background in pastoral ministry, publishing, and theological reflection, this...

How can the American church evolve to be more courageous, inclusive, and authentic in the decades to come? In the second installment of our Future Church Series, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford talk with longtime friends Kristen Howerton and Andy Lara about the current state of the church in America and what needs to change for it to thrive in the future. Kristen—a clinical psychologist, writer, and fo...

How the American church can face a rapidly changing culture by reclaiming its missionary identity, simplifying institutional models, and empowering the next generation of leaders. In this special edition kicking off a three-part mini-series for the 200th episode of the Voxology Podcast, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford revisit some of their favorite past guests to explore one timely question: What is th...

Peeling back layers of modern Christianity's most pressing questions, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie journey into a spirited and vulnerable mailbag episode that challenges traditional assumptions around social justice, obedience, desire, and discipleship. Through listener questions and current events, the team engages in an honest—and often humorous—debate about what it really means to deny o...