Gospel Simplicity Podcast

In this episode, I'm joined by Catholic apologist and repeat guest, Suan Sonna, to discuss Mary's role in the Early Church. Specifically, we're looking at some sources that I didn't bring up in my own video on the historical record for Marian doctrine and devotion in the early church. These sources include the Odes of Solomon, the Sibylline Oracles, and more. Along the way, we...

In this episode, I'm joined by the Rev. Dr. Matthew Olver and the Rev. Dr. Nathan Jennings to discuss their book, Turning Points in Prayer Book History which traces the development of the Book of Common Prayer over the centuries.  Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreo...

In this episode, I'm joined by two repeat guests, Dr. Matthew Thomas and Dr. Barnabas Aspray. I've had the pleasure of getting to know both of these men over the last few years, and for almost the entirety of that time, they've insisted that I read one book: The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism by Fr. Louis Bouyer. Finally, after much delay, I've read the book, and the three o...

In this episode, I'm joined by the Rev. Dr. Michael Niebauer to discuss his new book, From Word to Worship, which is all about learning to read the Bible in accord with the lectionary, noticing the way it connects Scripture and presents it as a unified story with Christ at the center. Over the course of the conversation, we cover things like hermeneutics, preaching advice, the history of the...

In this episode, I'm joined by Bonnie Kristian to discuss her new book, In Defense of Evangelicalism: A Response to its Cultured Despisers. Over the course of the interview, we discuss what makes Evangelicalism unique, why its become a punching bag in American discourse, its entanglement with politics, and much more. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Ge...

In this episode, I'm joined by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Plant to discuss his new book, King Oswald's Heirs, which is a meditation on the 1662 BCP Catechism applied to the questions of re-enchantment and Christianity in a modern/post-modern world. It's a fascinating combination and well-worth reading. In this discussion, Fr. Thomas discusses the importance of embracing the traditions we&a...

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Brendan Case to discuss his new book, Doubting Thomas (UND Press), which covers a host of debates between St. Thomas Aquinas and his Franciscan counterparts, especially St. Bonaventure. In this discussion, Dr. Case shares a few instances where he thinks Bonaventure got the better of Thomas. Moreover, he shares why these debates matter and how they might bett...

What did the earliest Christians believe about the Virgin Mary? That's what I'll cover in this video, looking at both orthodox and heterodox groups, as well as written and material evidence. This is the longest and most detailed video yet in my ongoing series on the history of Marian doctrine and devotion.  Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage Pre-order my...

Since its definition as a dogma in 1950, Mary's Bodily Assumption has been a point of tension between Protestants and Catholics. For some, it's the beautiful telos of the other Marian dogmas. For others, it's a bewildering act of dogmatizing something that seems unnecessary.  This video isn't about who's right. Instead, this video is a look at the historical development of...

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Zachary Wagner, author of Men of Virtue, to discuss the crises men are facing, the problematic solutions being offered, and why embracing a Christian vision of virtue is the answer. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsi...

You might have heard that C.S. Lewis believed in Purgatory, and that's true. But his vision of Purgatory is unique, combining Protestant and Catholic sensibilities. In this video, I unpack what Lewis taught about Purgatory in Letters to Malcom and The Great Divorce, looking specifically at the theological foundation for his views and what that means for us today. Join Me on the Camino!: https...

In this episode, I'm joined by Rev. Hannah Miller King to discuss how understanding the Eucharist can change how we see the entirety of the Christian life. We talk about grief, community, and divisions in the church along the way as we explore what the Eucharist really means.  Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island:...

Last week, the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X consecrated four bishops without papal mandate, and 24 hours later, the Vatican pronounced that the SSPX clergy had incurred excommunication and warned that laypeople who formally adhere to the SSPX could be guilty of excommunication as well. It was major news, but at first, I thought I'd just leave it to the Catholics and SSPX to sort this out....

In this video, I'm joined by Dr. Jordan Steffaniak to discuss Classical Theism, what it is, how it's Biblical, and why all Christians, Protestants included, should hold to it. If you've ever wondered why things like Divine Simplicity or impassibility matter, this video is for you. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get access to my book club, s...

In this video, I'm joined by Fr. Matthew C. Dallman to discuss the distinctive elements of Anglican Spirituality as well as major figures within the Anglican spiritual tradition. Fr. Matthew Dallman is the leading expert on Martin Thornton, and has published a new book on him, alongside republishing his works. Find him on Substack: https://substack.com/@frmcdallman Akenside Institute for Engl...

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz to discuss how an uptick in converts, especially among young men, is impacting Orthodoxy in America. Dr. Riccardi-Swartz brings an interesting perspective to this topic as she is both an academic anthropologist and an Orthodox Christian herself. Her research is some of the first of its kind regarding Orthodoxy in America.  Pre-order m...

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Richard Gallenstein, Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Master of Public Policy program at The Catholic University of America, to discuss Catholic Social Teaching and what it means for us today. We dive into the Church's teaching on Capitalism, Socialism, and how this relates to questions like wealth inequality, AI, and more.  Pre-or...

In this video, I'm joined by Dr. Grace Hamman to discuss how Medieval Christians approached spiritual formation. We give special attention to their understanding of virtue and vice, exploring how that might help enrich our modern approaches to the Christian life. We also talk about how to read medieval theologians wisely, and what to do with some of the more extreme examples of piety that mig...

In this video, I'm joined by the Reverend Dr. Matthew S.C. Olver to discuss the origins and evolution of Christian liturgies. We talk about how Christian liturgies relate to Second Temple Judaism, what we learn from St. Justin Martyr, what happened at Vatican 2, and whether the Episcopalian Eucharistic Prayer C is great or cringe-worthy. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https...

In this conversation, Dr. Paul Sloan discusses the relationship between Jesus and the law, challenging common misconceptions about the Pharisees and the nature of ritual purity. He emphasizes that Jesus' teachings and actions should be understood within the context of Israel's restoration and the covenantal framework established in the Old Testament. The discussion highlights the importa...

In this interview, I'm joined by Sean Luke of  @anglicanaesthetics to discuss how historic Anglican theology can address some of our contemporary debates about sola scriptura, Protestantism, and more. We discuss whether Anglicans really believe in sola scriptura, how Anglicans have viewed historic schisms, and whether the development of the Church of England was itself schismatic. Prepare to...

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. David Moffitt, one of the world's leading experts on the atonement and the book of Hebrews. We discuss how the ascension is a critical, yet overlooked, part of Christ's atoning work, how misunderstanding Jewish sacrifice causes us to misunderstand the cross, and why Hebrews is every bit as important as Romans for understanding the atonement.  Pre...

In this interview, I'm joined by Kevin Fernandez of  ⁨@SinceAD33⁩ for a friendly discussion about the current state of the sola scriptura debate to see if there are ways in which Protestants and Catholics can productively move the conversation forward. And part of moving forward, we find, is looking backwards, retrieving the best of the past for fruitful discussion in the present. Pre-order m...

In this interview, I'm joined by Fr. James Dominic Rooney O.P. to discuss the role of infallibility and dogma in Christianity based upon his book, Whoever Hears You Hears Me? In essence, Fr. JD argues that all Christians--not just Catholics--need some form of infallibility to make their theological systems work. Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9 Get acc...

In this interview, I'm joined once again by my good friend, Dr. Barnabas Aspray. This time, we're picking up a conversation we've been having for sometime offline about whether liberal Protestantism is the most consistent form of Protestantism. In other words, does the Reformation naturally lead to Liberal Protestantism? Note, when we talk about Liberal Protestantism, we're not...