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Byron Johnson and Thomas Kidd take a contrarian stance against “dominant media and scholarly narratives regarding religion” in their new book, The Death of Religion?, published by B&H Academic. “We present conclusive data to show that religious people are thriving and that practicing religious people are thriving most of all. We further show that at […]

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. I began vocational ministry the summer of 1990 and have served in various capacities ever since. As ministers, we often focus on what happens on Sunday morning as the people of God gather to worship. But for Sunday […]

“We live in an age where attention has become our most endangered resource. Every sound, every scroll, every urgency competes for it. But what if the real threat to our spiritual lives isn’t disbelief, but distraction? What if the Spirit has not grown silent, but we have grown unable to hear?” Jeremy Sims asks these […]

“Sometimes I wonder if heaven will feel a bit like an afternoon nap,” writes Brett McCracken in The Wisdom of Sleep. Maybe it’s because naps are signpost of something far greater that we’ve not yet fully experienced. Maybe it’s because even the most relaxing vacation, replenishing Sabbath, and restorative night’s sleep are only teasers for […]

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Lee Grady writes the following in his book, Lead Like Paul: Saul of Tarsus — who eventually became known by his Greek name, Paul — is our mentor and spiritual father. Apart from Jesus Himself, he is our best […]

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk Assemblies of God General Superintendent Doug Clay about themes in his new book, Blind Spots: The Invisible Vulnerabilities Shaping Your Leadership, published by Gospel Publishing House.  Introducing the topic of his b...

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. “Honesty matters, and people care a great deal about it,” writes Christian Miller. Yet we are facing an unprecedented erosion of honesty today — what I call an honesty crisis. Indeed, we are facing not just one crisis, but a variety of […]

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. “Paul didn’t want believers to detach themselves from life in this world,” writes Nijay Gupta. “He didn’t want ‘otherworldliness’ only. He also didn’t want them to be preoccupied with only temporary and fleeting things, ‘cheap worldliness.’ He wanted believers to imitate [&#82...

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. “Regardless of your Sunday attendance numbers, your church can become one of the most influential organizations in your city,” writes Kevin Foster. “As culture drifts further from the local church, one of the most powerful ways to become relevant again is […]

Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Recently, a prominent Southern Baptist leader called on his denomination to end the confusion caused when Baptist churches allow women to be called pastors. “The vast majority of Southern Baptists … are absolutely clear and have been all […]