In this episode of Gospelbound , Collin Hansen invites Mark Vroegop to discuss his book, Waiting Isn't a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life. They discuss: learning to wait well deepening our trust in God's timing and strengthening our faith our culture's aversion to waiting the importance of God's sovereignty in our "gap moments"...
In this episode of Gospelbound , Collin Hansen talks with Gavin Ortlund about his new book, What It Means to Be Protestant , which addresses the struggles of Protestants experiencing "ecclesial angst" and encourages those interested in Protestantism. They discuss: The influence of social media and podcasts on religious trends Understanding church history and its relation to current Protestant-Catholic dialogues The role of Scripture's authority in Protestant theology The challenges of fragmentat...
In this episode of Gospelbound , Collin Hansen talks with James Davison Hunter about his book, Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis, where Hunter argues that America's political crisis is rooted in cultural divisions rather than just political differences. They discuss: how a loss of shared values has led to a lack of solidarity and the rise of identity politics growing resentment on both sides, the left and right the need for Christians to adopt a "faith...
How can you be a Christian given the church’s record on race? How can you believe what the Bible says about sexuality when Christians have acted so hatefully? Questions like these have caused many to doubt and even deconstruct their faith. How can followers of Jesus help those who are deconstructing? How can we find help when we feel racked by doubt? In this breakout session from TGCW24, Collin Hansen and Rebecca McLaughlin explore these questions and offer hope and help. For more TGCW24 confere...
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen interviews David Brooks about his new book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen . They explore what it means to be an "illuminator" who helps people feel seen and significant and the need to cultivate a societal value for kindness and respect. They also discuss how personal suffering can foster empathy and strengthen our human connections....
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Dr. Allen Guelzo discuss Guelzo's book, Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment . As they examine the historical parallels between the challenges facing democracy during Abraham Lincoln's presidency and today, they emphasize the importance of understanding historical contexts to better appreciate and uphold democratic values in modern times....
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen talks to Steve Preston about how Preston's Christian faith has influenced his leadership and community service, particularly at Goodwill Industries where he serves as President and CEO. Preston is committed to addressing poverty and providing opportunities to strengthen communities through social enterprise, and his experience demonstrates how faith can impact significant, positive change and human flourishing.
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and George Marsden discuss Marsden's book, An Infinite Fountain of Light: Jonathan Edwards for the 21st Century . They highlight the relevance of Edwards's theology for modern times, exploring his view of the universe as an expression of God's love and the beauty of Christ's sacrificial love. They also discuss Edwards's greatest sermons, changes in his studies, and the contrast between Edwards's spiritual perspective and Benjamin Franklin's more mate...
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Claude Atcho discuss the relevance of the Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus (John 4) for Christian witness in contemporary society. Atcho emphasizes the power of personal transformation through Jesus Christ as foundational to effective apologetics, advocating for sharing one's genuine experiences with Christ as a bridge to engaging a skeptical world. Hansen and Atcho discuss the need for Christians to maintain authenticity and relational int...
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger offer hope and encouragement to parents as they discuss the challenges of Christian parenting in a secular age. They explore the importance of grounding parenting in the gospel, emphasizing the need for hope, trust in God's purposes, and the application of grace. The conversation also covers the role of community and the impact of digital technology on parenting. Melissa Kruger shares insights from her book, Parenting with Hope , h...
Collin Hansen and Irwyn Ince discuss Ince's book, Hope Ain't a Hustle , exploring how our hope in Christ impacts faithful living amid cultural and societal challenges, suffering, and injustice. They delve into the critical roles of Scripture, gathered worship, and community in sustaining our hope, and they highlight the importance of daily disciplines in cultivating our anticipation of God's victory over sin and injustice....
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Samuel James examine the profound ways smartphones have reshaped our culture and devotional practices. They discuss James's new book, Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age , and the necessity of biblical wisdom in an era dominated by digital narratives. Hansen and James also explore the influence of technology on identity and societal norms, particularly concerning the transgender revolution. Their discussion helps un...
In this episode of Gospelbound , Collin Hansen and Jeremy Treat discuss Treat's new book, The Atonement: An Introduction , exploring how the cross of Christ defies worldly expectations and fulfills humanity's deepest desires. They discuss the inseparable link between the cross and the kingdom, the dynamics of the Trinity in the work of salvation, and how Christ's crucifixion addresses both our guilt and shame. They end their conversation on the transformative power of Christ's atonement and how ...
Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman discuss the complex nature of authority within both the church and broader society, highlighting its significance for protection and flourishing, while also addressing the challenges it presents in today's world. They draw on Leeman's book, Authority: How Godly Rule Protects the Vulnerable, Strengthens Communities, and Promotes Human Flourishing , to discuss how godly leadership, exemplified by Jesus, can lead to strengthened communities and serve as a beacon of...
You probably consider yourself a Christian, if you listen to this podcast. But I can bet that you have questions about Christianity. You might even doubt aspects of Christianity. If not, then you definitely know someone who does. And maybe you’ll want to share this podcast with them. Whether you’ve believed for as long as you can remember, or you’re doubting right now, it can be comforting to know that the faith journey rarely looks simple. The journey is full of twists and turns. Politics, sexu...
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Brad Wilcox discuss Wilcox's new book, Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization. They delve into the topic of the role of churches in reinforcing the values and virtues of good families, the modern priority on money and free time, and the two-parent privilege, among other subjects....
Join Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger for their annual discussion as they look back on the most impactful stories of 2023. They'll also share projects they're working on, books they're reading, and what they're each looking forward to in ministry and life in 2024. Episode time stamps: Tim Keller's legacy and impact on the church (0:00) Women in ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention (4:57) Dechurching, its reasons, and hope for the future (10:57) Disillusionment with secularism and its impa...
The birth of Christ from Mary's womb assured justice for the world. Collin Hansen reflects on the hope this gives us at Christmastime. Read the full meditation transcript, here .
What if the best way to defend our faith can be found by visiting premodern North Africa? That’s the premise of the latest book by the dynamic apologetics duo of Josh Chatraw and Mark Allen. It’s called The Augustine Way: Retrieving a Vision for the Church’s Apologetic Witness , published by Baker Academic. This is a special episode of Gospelbound. I normally record remotely from my office at Beeson Divinity School, where I co-chair the advisory board and serve as adjunct professor, but in this ...
If you know Justin Brierley, it’s probably for the debates and interviews he hosted for many years with the Unbelievable? radio show and podcast. He interviewed some of the most outspoken atheist critics of Christianity and convened some of the most intense debates of recent memory. During that time, however, Justin noticed a shift. The conversations changed in tone and substance—dramatically so. The bombast began to disappear. Secular guests opened to Christianity, at least its cultural and soc...
“Jesus hears and cares about the things that make your heart heavy and your cheeks wet.” That was perhaps the most moving line in Alistair Begg’s new book, The Christian Manifesto: Jesus’ Life-Changing Words from the Sermon on the Plain , published by The Good Book Company. It’s a challenging book. It’s a sensible book. It’s a book about how we approach the world, how we engage the culture in truth and love. Above all it’s a biblical book all about Jesus. Core to Begg’s manifesto is a contrast b...
There’s one big idea at the heart of Andrew Wilson’s remarkable new book, Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West , published by Crossway. He argues that more than any other year in the last millennium—the last 1,000 years—1776 made us who we are today in the West. I suppose many American listeners now are thinking, Of course! The Declaration of Independence! Ron Swanson says history began on July 4, 1776. But wait: didn’t Andrew just say the post-Christian West? What does h...
Jen Wilkin and J. T. English have given you an invitation—they want you to know and love God well. Sounds good, right? It’s hard to imagine any of us turning down that offer. There’s just one catch. You need to become a theologian. But you can do it. You were built for it! That’s their theme in a new book, You Are a Theologian , published by B&H. They’re bringing theology to the masses, something they’ve been doing together for many years. You know Jen Wilkin as a Bible teacher from Dallas, ...
Jesus was and is a genius. Have you ever thought of him that way? We know him as a friend, Lord, healer, and teacher. Of course, Son of God, true God from True God. But genius ? Einstein was a genius. Hawking was a genius. Men of science. Men of modernity. Men who created our world. Jesus? He’s a religious figure. And we don’t associate religion with genius. Even when we confess with Hebrews 1:3 that Jesus “upholds the universe by the word of his power.’ Peter Williams, however, wants you to con...
He calls abortion the “spiritual battle of our lives.” And he firmly believes that abortion will end when men make it so. Roe v. Wade has been overturned, but this former football star says the fight for life has only reached halftime. He is Benjamin Watson, author of The New Fight for Life: Roe, Race, and a Pro-Life Commitment to Justice , published by Tyndale Momentum. You may already know quite a bit about abortion. But you may have never seen the subject explored from this angle. Watson argu...
It’s been dubbed the Gender Revolution. And if you’re listening from anywhere in the West, you see it everywhere. Gender identity has been disconnected from biology. What you feel about your body matters more than what you can see and touch . Even children, encouraged to believe they were born into the wrong-gendered body, now expect and even demand support from parents and other authorities as they seek life-altering drugs and surgeries to “confirm” the gender with which they identify. For almo...
“The gospel is not just the diving board off which we jump into Christianity—it’s the swimming pool in which we swim.” That’s a line from J. D. Greear’s new book, Essential Christianity: The Heart of the Gospel in Ten Words , published by The Good Book Company. Greear is pastor at The Summit Church in North Carolina and the author of many books. He served as the 62nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant church network in the United States. His book Essential Chris...
Sometimes advice isn’t just bad. It’s delusional. That’s what Jean Twenge writes in her new book, Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future . She makes this comment about “the most optimistic and self-confident generation in history.” My generation. The Millennials. Here’s the advice we heard over and over growing up: “just be yourself,” “believe in yourself and anything is possible,” “express yourself,” and ...
“For as much as I'll miss, [Tim Keller] gave so much more—by God's grace—that no one or nothing can ever take away from us.” – Collin Hansen Melissa Kruger hosts a special edition of Gospelbound where Collin Hansen reflects on the life and ministry of Tim Keller. Hansen talks about the first time he met Keller, his experience writing a book on Keller's spiritual formation, discovering how important prayer was in the latter part of Keller's spiritual journey, and more. Through Hansen's reflection...
For 20 years, I’ve felt like Molly Worthen and I have lived parallel lives. We graduated college the same year. We wrote for some of the same publications, on some of the same subjects. But I chose to head into church ministry, while she settled into the academy and earned her PhD from Yale. Molly is associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You may have read her work in The New York Times , Slate , or Christianity Today . She is perhaps best known for he...
