In this episode Pastor Raef first digs into a study on Titus 2:5 and considers what it means for women today in the Church. Then Sara jumps into the conversation to discuss her own journey as a homemaker. https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/16/sport/harrison-butker-commencement-speech-analysis-cec/index.html https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-harvest-of-homemaking
In this episode Pastor Raef completes his review of Scientology's origin, by looking briefly at the second half of L Ron Hubbard's life and the fantasy world he created around him. Additionally we'll look more big picture at how Christians ought to handle cults, and what our responsibility is in the face of cults around us. See book, Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion by Janet Reitman
In recent weeks, scientology has opened up a new location right in the South Loop of Chicago, the very same neighborhood where Pastor Raef's Church exists. In this episode, Pastor Raef exposes the roots of Scientology. Particularly we'll dig into L Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, background with the occult. This episode largely follows the general flow of the first few chapters of Janet Reitman's book 'Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion' Helpful books ref...
In this episode Pastor Raef Chenery unveils the loneliness pandemic, particularly as it relates to men in our culture today. We'll look at the story of David and Jonathan and pull out five principles that men can consider when they think about building biblical faithful life-giving friendships in their lives. https://www.christianpost.com/voices/male-loneliness-the-new-epidemic.html
In this episode Pastor Raef explores Calvinism. What it is, and why he has been so personally impacted by this framework for understanding Scripture.
In this episode, Pastor Raef interviews Erica Carr who serves as the Head of School for a new ministry of Park Community Church, a Christian Classical School. Whether you are a prospective parent in Chicago, or simply tuning in to learn more about classical Christian education, this episode will provide a world of information to help you learn more. Visit chicagochristianacademy.org/ to learn more.
In this episode Pastor Raef discusses the issue of pornography in our culture, and provides biblical foundations for how we are to think about it, and how Christians are called to flee from it. To those who are battling habits and addictions with pornography, this episode will provide Biblical resources for overcoming pornography. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/seven-promises-to-pray-against-porn
In this episode, Pastor Raef interviews Dr. Brian Thomas ( Ph.D in paleobiochemistry from University of Liverpool ) with the Institute for Creation Research as they discuss the topics of evolution and creation. Evolution is commonly believed to be "settled science." In reality, there is very little evidence directly supporting the evolutionary narrative, and very great evidence supporting the account of creation as provided in the Scriptures. https://www.icr.org/brian_thomas/...
In this episode, Pastor Raef interviews Dave Childers who serves as the Sending Church Network Director for Upstream Collective. In the interview, they discuss God's heart for the nations, and current trends in missions around the globe.
In this episode Pastor Raef Chenery interviews Juan Riesco, with Love Life Ministries in Chicago to discuss how Christians can be more involved in standing for the sanctity of life in the womb.
In this episode Pastor Raef digs into a new claim widely circulating online, and soon coming out with a full documentary, claiming that the Christian position against homosexuality is simply due to a mistranslation of a bible in 1946. Is this true? How can we know if it isn't. Further, we will dig into two ministries that have become quite popular among the gay community, Revoice Conference, and Preston Sprinkle's Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender, and discuss why these ministries are so d...
In this episode Pastor Raef looks at the classic understanding of how to understand the Old Testament law of God as a Christian. There is great confusion over this in modern years, and there ought not be. the Bible has much to say on this topic, and as Christians we should know how to handle our Bibles well, in order to honor God with our lives.
In this episode Pastor Raef talks about a Biblical vision for parenting. Before you think that this episode is only for parents, it's not. If you are a Christian, it is important for you to know what the parents in your Church are aiming to do, because you are in their Church with them. This episode is for everyone, and provides some basic historic Christian parenting tools that can assist you in raising Godly kids.
In this episode, Pastor Raef Chenery discusses the issue of legalized physician assisted suicide in Canada and how to think about this from a biblical worldview. Resources https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying.html https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/06/canada-legalized-medical-assisted-suicide-euthanasia-death-maid/673790/ https://www.ncregister.com/cna/hungry-poor-and-disabled-canadians-now-seeking-assisted-suicide https...
We are in a season of history where war covers our news cycle. But how ought Christians think about war. What is the history of the theology of war. In this episode Pastor Raef looks at Just War Theory and considers how the history of Just War Theory can help us navigate our current times. Resources Piers Morgan Interview https://twitter.com/ReichmanShmuel/status/1722754621557350845?s=20 Book, Ethics for a Brave New World, https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Brave-Second-Updated-Expanded/dp/158134712X...
In this episode, Pastor Raef jumps into one of the classic apologetics question, and frankly a question that many Christians often wonder about. After a survey of understanding what Christians believe about the Bible, we then dive into the four major categories of evidence that demonstrate the trustworthiness of Scripture. Resources https://biblearchaeology.org/ https://notthebee.com/article/joe-rogan-was-sad-that-theres-no-instruction-manual-for-human-existence-and-boy-do-i-have-good-news-for-h...
In this episode Pastor Raef discusses the tragic war that has begun in Israel, after they were attacked by the terrorist organization Hamas. We discuss how to think about this from a Biblical perspective, a historic perspective, and a prophetic perspective. Resources CNN Article: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/09/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza-war-explained-mime-intl/index.html Michael Rydelnik Book: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Arab-Israeli-Conflict-Headlines-Havent/dp/0802426239/...
In this episode, Pastor Raef interviews a member of the Church who shares his experiences with same sex attraction. We discuss how Christians ought to think about this topic, how it is connected to Original Sin, what our new nature in Christ has to say about it. And then, we have a brief discussion on our hyper sexualized culture and how the roots of what we are experiencing in culture today can be traced back to Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud.
A powerful interview with a member from our Church, telling the story of how Christ delivered him from an addiction to Heroin. A story of hope, and a reminder of the power of the Gospel in every Christian's life.
In this episode Pastor Raef shares the audio of a powerful evangelistic encounter that took place outside of an abortion clinic in Chicago. Throughout the episode, we pause to examine the conversation and what we can learn about evangelism from it.
In this episode Pastor Raef considers June in America, what has now been labeled as Pride Month. We'll consider Pride Month in general, what happened to Target, a new law regarding homosexuality in Nigeria, and then we'll take Listener Q&A focused specifically on navigating LGBTQ issues in the workplace. Articles Discussed https://wng.org/opinions/welcome-to-pride-month-christian-1654083759 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65034343 https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/25/business/target-lgbtq-me...
In this episode Pastor Raef digs into one of the core divisions between Catholics and Protestants, the doctrine of Justification. This episode correlates to a blog post that Pastor Raef wrote on this topic that can be found here: https://raefchenery.com/2023/05/24/justification-the-great-division-between-protestant-catholics/ RESOURCES Are We Together?: A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism by RC Sproul https://www.amazon.com/Together-Protestant-Analyzes-Roman-Catholicism/dp/1567692826/...
In this episode Pastor Raef interviews his wife Sara Chenery as they discuss the topic of adoption. Raef and Sara have two adopted daughters through Chicago's foster care system, and Sara Chenery oversees Park Community Church's Adoption Fund . They discuss they're own journey with adoption and foster care, challenges and blessings throughout the process, practicals of what it looks like to be involved. And of course, a bit of Roman history to balance it all out. :) For more information on Park ...
In this episode Pastor Raef sits down with Mike Rolfes, the President of Renew Chicago, to discuss politics in Chicago and the priorities of our new mayor. rewewchi.org
In this episode, Pastor Raef first discusses an apologetic response to the problem of Evil. Then takes Listener Q&A on the topics of Artificial Intelligence, Becoming All Thing to All People, and Male Headship in the Home. To learn more about Park Community Church South Loop visit: https://parkcommunity.church/south-loop To visit Pastor Raef's blog visit: https://raefchenery.com/
In this episode Pastor Raef interviews Juan Riesco who leads a ministry in Chicago called Love Life Ministries aimed at caring for women with unplanned pregnancies. We discuss his conversion to Christianity, how Christ led him away from homosexuality, his remarkable story of how he tried to make much of Christ when the organization BLM violently and criminally shut his successful business down through threats and persecution, and his current work with Love Life. Resources Testimony of Former Abo...
Last week Sam Smith & Petra's performance of their song 'unholy' was performed on live TV at the Grammy's in what was some kind of tribute or celebration of Lucifer. In this episode Pastor Raef considers this cultural moment and explores what possible good can come of something as overtly Satanic as this. We'll explore a bit of the nature of spiritual warfare and how Christians are called to "stand firm." https://nypost.com/2023/02/06/sam-smiths-satanic-grammys-performance-slammed-on-twitter...
In this episode, Pastor Raef Chenery navigates different questions that have been submitted to the podcast over the last few weeks. The topic range for theology to pastoral care. Quotes from Charles Hodge Systematic Theology https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Charles-Hodge-ebook/dp/B00EB9XBY8
In this episode Pastor Raef digs into a new front on the sexual revolution, that of Polyamory (when a person has one or more romantic partners at the same time, with the enthusiastic consent of everyone involved). What should Christians think about this? And what are the Gospel implications? Article References https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/four-parents-who-all-fell-in-love-open-up-about-their-polyfamory/ar-AA16LtTM https://www.instyle.com/lifestyle/polyamorous-relationship h...
In this episode we look at a recent scientific study that concluded, "Females on Average Perform Better Than Males on a ‘Theory of Mind’ Test Across 57 Countries." Are men and women wired differently? And if so, why? What purpose does God have in the differences between men and women? A brief intro video to Complementarianism I taught at a Systematic Theology class a few years ago. https://youtu.be/E8BDZg5_ra4?t=752 https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/women-more-empathetic-men-study-210406085.html h...
