In this stand alone special edition of Listening In , host Warren Smith talks with Christian actor Max McLean. He is the founder of Fellowship for Performing Arts, a New York City-based company that produces live theater and film from a Christian worldview. McClean is the unmistakable voice of several popular audio versions of the Bible, including the English Standard Version, the New International Version, and the King James Version. He is also well known for his stage adaptations of the works ...
May 12, 2023•42 min
Communicating biblical truth to a post-modern culture is no easy task. But Christopher Watkin, author of the new book, Biblical Critical Theory , not only understands the post-modern mindset, but also how to communicate what he calls the "unique treasures" the Bible offers for rightly interpreting the world in which we live. Christopher Watkin has a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and is associate professor of French studies at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Listening In is a ...
Jan 06, 2023•48 min
In this second part of Warren Smith's conversation with Rick Warren, the two men chat as they walk through Rick Warren's substantial library at the Rick and Kay Warren Foundation headquarters, in Orange County, California. Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most ...
Dec 31, 2022•41 min
Rick Warren’s 2002 book The Purpose Driven Life sold more than 50-million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time. He was an adviser to George W. Bush, and he delivered the invocation prayer at Barack Obama’s inauguration. Time , Newsweek , and U.S. News and World Report have all named him to their lists of the most influential people in the world. After more than 40 years as pastor of Saddleback Church, he is retiring. Warren Smith recently spent an afternoon with Rick Warre...
Dec 30, 2022•52 min
Very few things are harder for a Christian to do than forgive. Yet there is nothing more countercultural today than loving our enemies, and praying for those who spitefully use us. In this conversation with Warren Smith, Tim Keller talks about his newest book: Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? Keller builds on decades of pastoral counseling and Christian experience as he expounds on what the Bible says about forgiveness--helping believers find healing while not ignoring God's justice. Tim Kel...
Dec 23, 2022•35 min
Irish singer and songwriter Keith Getty is best known for the hymn “In Christ Alone,” but he is much more than a songwriter. The Gettys annual “Sing” conferences, held in Nashville, have become “must attend” events for worship leaders. In this interview with Warren Smith, Keith Getty talks about his newest recording project Christ Our Hope in Life and Death . Plus he discusses his vision of building a strong community of worship leaders that seeks to bring both excellent musicianship, sound theo...
Dec 16, 2022•44 min
Todd Stiefel had nagging doubts about his Catholic faith during his youth. He says in college, he found the answers he was looking for...by walking away from his Christian upbringing. In this conversation, hear what led Stiefel to this decision as he and Warren Smith have a frank conversation about love, beauty, and truth. Stiefel is the founder and president of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation. He was the chair of the Openly Secular campaign. He is currently chair of the ScienceSaves campaign...
Dec 09, 2022•45 min
Andrew Peterson thoughtfully engages many aspects of what it means to be made in the Image of God. He is the founder of an artistic community in Nashville: The Rabbit Room--producing events, publishing books, and mentoring artists. Peterson is also the author of the award winning fantasy series: The Wingfeather Saga. Angel Studios has turned the books into an animated series released this weekend. In this interview with Warren Smith, Peterson discusses the creative process and his journey to bro...
Dec 02, 2022•29 min
Summary/Description: After the death of his 20-year old son, Tim Challies started to write: not for others, but himself. The popular blogger and author chronicled his private journey through grief and loss. He later decided to share those reflections in: Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God. In this conversation with Warren Smith, Tim walks through the early days of sorrow, and shares the comfort than brought him through that difficult first year Listening In is a listener ...
Nov 25, 2022•35 min
Trevin Wax compares theological orthodoxy to buried treasure. The deeper you dig, the more you discover. In his new book The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith , Trevin Wax says that the way forward for the evangelical church is to look back to the ancient creeds and confessions. Trevin is vice president for research and resource development at the North American Mission Board. Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional suppo...
Nov 18, 2022•36 min
Robert Jeffress is pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas and the author of nearly 30 books including 18 Minutes With Jesus: Straight Talk from the Savior about the Things That Matter Most. During the 2016 presidential election, Jeffress endorsed and appeared at rallies for Donald Trump. He later served on his Evangelical Advisory Board and White House Faith Initiative. In this conversation, Jeffress talks about faith and witness in these politically divisive times. Listening In is a listener ...
Nov 11, 2022•27 min
Bart Barber is a small-town pastor, church historian, and the newest president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC is the largest protestant denomination in the country with about 14-million members. Barber steps into leadership during a tumultuous time but he is hopeful for the future of the Evangelical Church and it's mission worldwide. Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips C...
Nov 04, 2022•29 min
Michael Kruger is a New Testament scholar and seminary president. He believes the church needs strong pastors who are also gentle shepherds--prized for their character over their giftedness. In this conversation with Warren Smith, Kruger warns against the lure of celebrity status that has led many pastors to ruin. His newest book is: Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support come...
Oct 28, 2022•34 min
Adbu Murray spent years investigating the major world religions and worldviews. He eventually discovered that the historic Christian faith is the only one that answers the questions of the mind and the longings of the heart. In his latest book: More Than A White Man’s Religion: Why The Gospel Has Never Been Merely White, Male-Centered, or Just Another Religion, Abdu explains how only the gospel can change hearts and heal the divisions in our world. In this interview with Warren Smith, Adbu Murra...
Oct 21, 2022•39 min
Listening In comes to you from WORLD News Group, and this program is just one of the many podcasts and publications available. To find out more about our complete family of products visit WNG.org. Tune in next week to hear my conversation with Robert Jeffress. Robert Jeffress has been one of most vigorous defenders of Donald Trump in the world of evangelicalism. I’ll ask him about his relationship with former President Trump, and we’ll also talk about his new book, 18 Minutes With Jesus , a book...
Oct 14, 2022•41 min
Jazz has been called the only distinctively American art form. Theologian and musician William Edgar notes that jubilation and beauty of jazz bears witness to a joyful reality of the Christian experience: That while sin leads to death, the Gospel leads to life. Dr. William Edgar is professor of apologetics and coordinator of apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. His latest book is A Supreme Love: The Music of Jazz and the Hope of the Gospel . Listening In is made possi...
Oct 07, 2022•37 min
Max Lucado is one of the best-selling Christian authors of all time. His books have sold a hundred-million copies in 56 languages. He's been called “America’s pastor” by Christianity Today, and he's served as the pastor of San Antonio’s Oak Hills Church since 1988. In this conversation with Warren Smith he talks about his new book: Help is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Listening In is made possible in part by support from Summit Ministries. Now We Live...
Oct 07, 2022•28 min
In this special Listening In episode, we remember Ron Sider, who died last week at the age of 82. Ron Sider’s 1977 book “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger” elevated him to a national and international stage. Its challenging call for Christians to both declare a biblical gospel and demonstrate compassionate care for the poor as part of the gospel message resonated with a generation of young evangelicals. Sider went on to form Evangelicals for Social Action, which championed social causes, and h...
Aug 05, 2022•31 min
Prolifers have prayed and advocated for an end to Roe v. Wade for decades. Now that abortion is no longer legal in all 50 states, pregnancy resource centers have a big job ahead, meeting the needs of mothers in crisis. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, CareNet president Roland Warren talks about how centers in its network are responding and how the church has an opportunity to be rethink its stance as pro-abundant life.
Jul 22, 2022•30 min
Jefrey Breshears is one of the most quietly influential thinkers in evangelicalism today. He's a former history and theology professor, and today he runs the Aeropagus Forum, a study center that combines apologetics with history and contemporary cultural issues. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Jefrey Breshears talks about the origins of America's culture war and what Christians can do in response.
Jul 15, 2022•35 min
Neal Harmon co-founded VidAngel and Angel Studios. Chris Wall is the showrunner for one of Angel Studio’s most anticipated projects, the animated adaptation of Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga. Both men are shaking up the Christian entertainment market with a new crowdfunding model that allows viewers to invest in projects they want to see created. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Neal Harmon and Chris Wall talk about their work.
Jul 08, 2022•44 min
Robert Sirico is a Catholic priest and founder of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. He holds degrees in English and Theology, but he has emerged as one of the nation’s most articulate Christian thinkers regarding economics. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Sirico discusses the parables of Jesus and what they teach us about God, man, and economics.
Jul 01, 2022•45 min
Sean McDowell takes tough concepts and makes them understandable in his new book for teens and parents, A Rebel's Manifesto . In it he offers short, sharp, satisfying discussions of such tough topics as homosexuality, pornography, abortion, immigration, guns and violence, the environment, and other hot-button issues. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, McDowell talks about some of those issues, why he wrote the book, and what it was like growing up as Josh McDowell's son.
Jun 24, 2022•42 min
What should Christians render unto God, and what should Christians render unto Caesar? Discerning the limits of our allegiance to Caesar is not always easy. Often Christians over-render to Caesar. We idolize political ideologies, or we tell ourselves that faithfulness to God means allegiance to a particular political ideology. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Paul Miller makes a case against Christian nationalism and the tendency of its adherents to confuse it with the tenets of Bibl...
Jun 17, 2022•38 min
Laura Perry lived for nearly a decade as a transgender man named “Jake.” Eventually she realized she was not a man trapped in a woman’s body. But by then she had made physical changes that would be difficult to undo. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Laura Perry talks about the radical transformation she experienced through Christ, and how she uses her experience to minister to others.
Jun 10, 2022•31 min
We know what we're saved from, but what are we saved for? Jake Meador dives deeply into that question by beginning at the beginning. God made the world, and He made it good. That foundation helps us read both Scripture and history in new and helpful ways. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Jake Meador explains our role as God’s ambassadors in the work of restoring all things to Himself. Support for Listening In comes from Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who care for one...
Jun 03, 2022•46 min
Andy Crouch has thought deeply about the impact technology has had on relationships, community, and creativity. Technology can be a blessing, and it's often necessary for our daily lives. But it can also be incredibly destructive. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Crouch explains how we live lives of sacrificial love and glorify God in this technological age. Support for Listening In comes from Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who care for one another spiritually and fi...
May 27, 2022•42 min
Jerry Jenkins is the best-selling author of the Left Behind series and more than 200 other books. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, he talks about his career, his writing process, and his manual for writers, Writing For The Soul. He also talks about his seemingly unlikely friendship with Stephen King, and what it's like being Dallas Jenkins' dad. Support for Listening In comes from Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who care for one another spiritually and financially whe...
May 20, 2022•42 min
Jesus said we are to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, but render unto God what is God’s. Atlanta megachurch pastor Andy Stanley believes that the evangelical church has devoted too much time and energy to Caesar and not enough to God. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Stanley talks about the ways Christians have been fighting for the wrong goals, in the wrong way. Support for Listening In comes from Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who care for one another spiritual...
May 13, 2022•38 min
Russ Ramsey is a pastor and art lover on a mission to help people see themselves as creators, made in God's image. He believes studying great artists can inform our own process of making and creating. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Ramsey talks about the artists he highlights in his new book, Rembrandt Is In The Wind: Learning To Love Art Through The Eyes of Faith . Support for Listening In comes from Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who care for one another spiritua...
May 06, 2022•50 min
