Curated topics for a disillusioned church
All of the curated podcasts on Sunday to Saturday. Visit our Listen Notes page or YouTube page for curated topical playlists.
For some Christians, Halloween should not be celebrated. For others, it is an enjoyable holiday. Using Romans 14 as a guide pastor J.D. Greear says that whether you celebrate or not you should respect the other side's decision and, at the very least, Christians should use the holiday to connect with their neighbors.
After reading the article The Value of Human Life and watching Image of God Biblical Theme, dig deeper into the doctrine of the image of God with this four-part series that details the history of the doctrine and what the philosophy means for Christians and how they live in the world. The historical context that Tim Mackie and Jon Collins bring to the conversation cements the fact of how revolutionary Genesis 1 is and continues to be, although it is often lost on modern Christians.
Finishing a six-part series on what it means to be human Language of God hosts Jim Stump and Colin Hoggerwerf, along with scientists and theologians, turn their focus onto defining the complicated statement of humans being made in the image of God. Some have postulated that it is because we can see things as they are and how they should be. Others have said it is because we can repent and accept forgiveness. Is it biological? It is theological? Is it both? The duo explains the complexities (impossibility?) of trying to definitively define the term while ultimately concluding that we must approach the term with humility while looking to Jesus for how we are to reflect God in the world.
Speaker Mike Cosper details three ways we bear God's images in the world - our capacity for relationships, our capacity for culture-making, and our capacity for wielding power. Each of these characteristics of God are detailed in the Bible, but what holds us back from realizing our full potential of being made in the image of God?
What does it mean to be created in the image of God? What are some of the essential implications of this truth? Does the restlessness of human beings point to God? Dr. Russell Moore answers these questions and more in an insightful, practical 40 minutes. Moore states that the doctrine of the image of God cannot be boiled down to one thing, but suggests that if he had to choose one thing that is unique to humans it would be our innate feeling that there is something out there for us.
In a well-rounded and straightforward conversation lead pastor at Cornerstone Church of Ames (Amex. IA) Mark Vance and Iowa State University professor Alex Tuckness discuss if Christian nationalism is real, how Christian nationalism can be distorted, and the dangers of Christian nationalism in the public square.
New Life Church (Colorado Springs, CO) pastor Glenn Packiam says pastors need to point out the symptoms of Christian nationalism before providing a diagnosis. Packiam then touches on idolatry, kingdom theology, the global church, and much more in a wide-ranging and nuanced interview.
Was America founded as a Christian nation? That depends on how you define Christian and how you define nation. In the 1800s did most of the population identify as Christian? Yes. Was this also a time when 1/3 of the population was in forced labor? Yes. Was this also a time when the majority of the population attended church? Yes. Was this a time when laws and social norms discriminated against Native Americans, black people, Catholics, and many other groups? Yes. Host Chris Staron illustrates that the claim that America was founded as a Christian nation or the statement that we need to "get back to being a Christian nation" is dubious. American history bears witness to a vague Christianity. One where people identify with the religion but don't follow the way of Jesus. Staron calls this the battle between the economic Jesus and the servant Jesus.
In a succinct and meaty conversation with host Marty Duren Georgetown University professor and author Paul Miller first defines his terms, such as classical liberalism, nationalism, patriotism, and conservatism, before discussing the dangers of nationalism shaping Christians instead of the other way around. Miller concludes the conversation with some advice for pastors addressing Christian nationalism from the pulpit.
In an illuminating hour hosts Jesse Eubanks and Rachel Szabo trace religious nationalism to the gospels (Matthew 3) while weaving interviews with Samuel Perry, a sociologist who developed a Christian nationalism scale, and discussions with three Christians who fall on different ends of the spectrum.
Sunday to Saturday 
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