A few weeks ago Pastor Raef joined the women of his church for a night of Q&A with the pastor. Many questions were addressed, ranging from theology, to apologetics, to how we care for others, and much more. We ran out of time before we could address all the questions. This episode is Pastor Raef's response to the remaining questions covering the topics of: Relationships & Sex, and Engaging the World & Culture. TGC Article Mentioned in Episode : https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/arti...
Jul 25, 2025•56 min•Ep. 114
In this episode Pastor Raef interviews Jenny Marcelene as they discuss a number of topics. We explore both her love for helping our kids form a deeper understanding of God's Global design for all nations, as well as how to disciple our children through the books they read and the books we read to them. Visit Jenny's website at https://www.jennymarcelene.com/ Recommendations from Jenny The Penderwicks (Jeanne Birdsall) series Humphrey (Betty G. Birney) seriesTree Street Kids (Amanda Cleary Eastep...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 113
In this episode Pastor Raef interviews Luckson Duverne, as they discuss Luckson's miraculous testimony of God's provision. From growing up in Haiti, to surviving abuse in Florida, to Bible College, to leading an incredible ministry caring for underprivileged orphans in Haiti, Luckson's story is one that highlights the power of Christ in a life. Learn more about Faire Garden Foundation: https://www.fairegarden.org/
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 112
In this episode Pastor Raef interviews Ellen, a member of his Church and an ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor. They discuss the differences between Biblical Counseling, Secular Therapy, and Christian Counseling, and why Christians ought to prioritize true Biblical Counseling.
May 28, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 111
In this episode Pastor Raef considers Pete Hegseth's recent prayer and time of worship in the Pentagon, and the controversy that has erupted as a result. We'll look at a healthy definition of Christian Nationalism and determine how Christian's ought to think about such an idea. https://www.christianpost.com/news/pete-hegseth-leads-prayer-to-king-jesus-during-pentagon-event.html https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pete-hegseth-christian-prayer-pentagon_n_682ee21fe4b0ef574bf58a2a https://www.youtube.co...
May 23, 2025•44 min•Ep. 110
In this episode Pastor Raef looks at the news that broke this week that the Roman Catholic Church has a new pope. We'll look at the history of the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church and consider how we as Christians should think about the news of a new pope. Resources https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/should-know-pope-leo-xiv/ https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/sola-scripture-three-views-in-church-history-on-the-relationship-between-tradition-and-scriptu...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 109
In this episode Pastor Raef lets you into a conversation he had with a woman outside an abortion clinic in Chicago. Throughout the conversation you will see the illogic of the supporting abortion, and Raef provides commentary along the way to help understand the convo. Resources https://www.factcheck.org/2015/09/planned-parenthoods-services/ https://lozierinstitute.org/fact-sheet-planned-parenthoods-2022-23-annual-report/
Apr 25, 2025•35 min•Ep. 108
Pastor Raef interviews Dr. Ben German to discuss what is happening in Illinois's law regarding Physician Assisted Suicide. We'll consider trends we've seen around the globe, what the law is in Illinois, and how we as Christians can think about this.
Apr 16, 2025•35 min•Ep. 107
In this episode Pastor Raef examines a few stories that have made their way into the news cycle. Andy Stanley, from North Point Community Church put out a video for his Church on how to engage transgender youth. New statistics reveal young men are reading their Bibles and attending church far more. John Piper makes waves by saying... what the Bible says. Resources https://protestia.com/2025/03/28/exclusive-leaked-lgbtq-training-video-from-andy-stanleys-church-reveals-shocking-instructions/ https...
Apr 11, 2025•52 min
In this episode Pastor Raef interviews Andy Coleman, author of the soon to be released book 'The Days of Darkness'. Andy's ministry focuses primarily on the persecuted church around the globe. Using his experience in some of the most persecuted environments, he shares not only how we can stay engaged with those who are persecuted for their faith around the globe, but also warns us how we can be aware of persecution in our own culture, and how to stand courageously for Christ in the midst of it....
Mar 20, 2025•57 min•Ep. 105
A short episode where Pastor Raef looks at the historical missionary Patrick, who is celebrated every year in St. Patrick's Day.
Mar 17, 2025•11 min•Ep. 104
In this episode Pastor Raef looks back at Richard Niebuhr's classic work Christ and Culture . And we think practically about what it means for Christians to live in a modern 21st century Constitutional Republic like America. What does it mean to engage culture and politics? How do we do this faithfully? How do we do this wisely? How do we do this effectively?
Mar 07, 2025•55 min•Ep. 103
In this episode, Pastor Raef goes through three separate articles from this week's news and evaluates them from a Christian worldview. First, we examine President Trump's Executive Order making IVF Treatment more accessible to American families. Second, we look at the recent controversy around Wheaton College that erupted when they removed a Facebook post celebrating their alumni Russ Vought's confirmation as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Third we look at a surprising new ...
Feb 20, 2025•50 min•Ep. 102
Pastor Raef interviews Pastor Joe Riccardi of Park Community Church Lincoln Park and discusses the topic of singleness, how to remain faithful to God, and experience his promises and blessings in and through one's singleness. Resources Holy Living: God's Design for Dating, Marriage, and Sex: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Q7w4mOhp130sEXSnNpH9M
Feb 14, 2025•45 min
In this episode Pastor Raef interviews his wife, Sara, to discuss motherhood, its joys, its challenges, and ultimately to discuss the call on mother's lives to mother to the glory of God.
Feb 07, 2025•46 min
This week we were horrified at the news of an American Airlines flight that collided with a blackhawk helicopter outside of Washington DC. How are we as Christians to understand such tragic events? Why do these kinds of things happen in this world? And why do we long for something other, something better? In this episode, Pastor Raef gives a primer on Covenant Theology, and demonstrates how having a solid footing in good theology, and particularly in Covenant Theology, provides a basis to unders...
Jan 31, 2025•58 min•Ep. 99
In this interview, Pastor Raef sits down and discusses Donald Trump's new presidency, along with some of the most pressing issues that not only drove him back into the White House, but have already become central issues of his presidency. We'll ask how Christians should engage and think about some of these issues.
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 98
In this episode Pastor Raef Chenery interviews Joel Settecase, President of The Think Institute. We cover a range of topics from apologetics, to the history demons, to confessional theology. Visit thethink.institute to learn more about Joel's ministry.
Jan 10, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 97
In this episode Pastor Raef looks at the philosophical underpinnings of wokeism, and explores why Christians must reject this worldview and stand confidently on the Bible.
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 96
In this episode, Pastor Raef goes through a lengthy list of common questions surrounding abortion in America. Use the Table of Contents below to navigate to the questions you're most interested in. Table of Contents When does life begin (Christianity & Science)? 5:10 Isn’t the pro life movement just men’s efforts to control women? 20:44 Was Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, a Eugenicist? 25:48 How many abortions occur each year and what phase of development do they occur in...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 95
In this episode Pastor Raef compares and contrasts the American and the French Revolution, and explains why he believes much of secular America is in danger of preferring the French revolutionary ideals to the American revolutionary ideals. Sources https://www.heritage.org/american-history/commentary/two-revolutions-freedom https://youtu.be/6w-lQjygygs?si=kxUy7wscsXEdLQ9z
Nov 08, 2024•50 min•Ep. 94
In this episode Pastor Raef looks at a trend occurring in American politics, that of godless conservatism. We consider the roots of political conservatism and how it has historically been rooted in God's revelation, and why the sudden removal of that cornerstone truly puts Christians in a precarious situation politically as we look into the future. Resources https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/toward-christian-view-economics https://albertmohler.com/2024/07/17/the-impotence-of-secular-conser...
Oct 18, 2024•58 min•Ep. 93
In this episode Pastor Raef sits down with Aaron Renn, author of Life in the Negative World , and co-founder of https://americanreformer.org/ . We got a chance to discuss his new book which considers what Christians need to do to think wisely and live rightly in our new "negative world", a world which is not only post-Christian, but in many ways anti-Christian....
Sep 26, 2024•34 min•Ep. 92
In this episode Pastor Raef shares a message he prepared recently on Psalm 34:8 "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good."
Sep 12, 2024•41 min•Ep. 91
In this episode we consider the zeal of Phinehas from Numbers 25, and we discuss the need for godly men in the Church to once again become bold and zealous men for God, who are willing to stand for God and against all that dares defy him.
Aug 30, 2024•53 min•Ep. 90
In this episode Pastor Raef digs into the fascinating passage of Genesis 6:1-4 and the story of the Nephilim, half angelic, half human giants that roamed the Earth before the flood of Noah, and even after the flood. We'll consider the fuller story of this account in Genesis that is found in the extra-biblical book of Enoch as well. Enjoy!
Aug 07, 2024•57 min•Ep. 89
In this episode we look at the American Bible Society's newest 'State of the Bible 2024' which came out just last week. There are both encouraging and discouraging points of data to consider as we look at Americans and their Bibles. See the full report here. https://1s712.americanbible.org/state-of-the-bible/stateofthebible/State_of_the_bible-2024.pdf
Jul 19, 2024•32 min•Ep. 88
In this episode Pastor Raef digs into politics by considering what the Bible has to say about politics. We look at five different approaches that Christians throughout the ages have taken to politics and consider them in light of history and in light of the Word of God. We'll also dabble in some relevant political commentary, all to the glory of God! https://raefchenery.com/2023/05/05/five-approaches-to-christian-political-engagement/
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 87
In this episode Pastor Raef looks at the life of David Brainerd, an early American missionary to the Native Americans. By studying his life together, not only will we get a wonderful picture of a life lived for the glory of God, but we'll pull out three principles for living godly lives in our own day and age. https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/history-biography/five-pioneer-missionaries/
Jun 17, 2024•41 min•Ep. 86
As we approach what America has labeled as "pride month," it is helpful to know two of the men whose ideas are often most celebrated as central to the LGBTQ movement, John Money & Alfred Kinsey. Warning, this episode is graphic and disturbing. But the facts of history ought to be wrestled with as we navigate these discussions. https://www.npr.org/2006/07/11/5549668/the-legacy-of-sex-researcher-john-money https://albertmohler.com/2004/11/15/kinsey-as-he-really-was-what-you-wont-see-in-the-mov...
May 31, 2024•49 min•Ep. 85
