Ian Smith discusses what the New Heavens and New Earth will be like when Jesus returns. He considers the popularity of heaven tourism books and what they tell us about common cultural assumptions, what the Bible says about our resurrected bodies, and what we'll actually be doing in the new earth for all eternity.
Ed Welch discusses the human need for relationship, both with God and with other people. He reflects on the epidemic of loneliness in our world today, what the Bible teaches us about our identity as priests unto God, and offers advice for the person who feels God is distant or even frustrated with them.
In this episode, Jim Hamilton discusses what to do when you hate your job. He offers encouragement for those frustrated in their work, reflects on God's original intention for work at creation, and explains the difference between a job and a vocation. Jim Hamilton is the author of Work and Our Labor in the Lord.Read the full transcript. If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!
David Mathis discusses how anyone can make Bible reading a habit in 2020. He reflects on the pros and cons of New Year's resolutions, shares why he prefers the term habits of grace rather than spiritual disciplines, and offers practical advice on making a plan to read the Bible every day.
Andreas Köstenberger explores how to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to the Christmas story. He shares his thoughts on the real date of Jesus's birth, talks about what was really going on with the wise men and the star, and digs into some of the key Old Testament prophecies and allusions related to the coming of Israel's Messiah, and how Jesus fulfilled every one of them.
Nancy Guthrie discusses dealing with grief over the holidays. She reflects on her own experiences of great loss and suffering, shares what God has taught her about his healing grace in her own life, and offers advice to family members and friends eager to love those struggling with deep sadness this holiday season.
Thomas Schreiner discusses the book of Revelation. He reflects on the best way to approach the book when studying it for the first time, explains what the mark of the beast is really all about, and offers words of counsel and encouragement for pastors hesitant to preach through Revelation in their churches.
Don Whitney discusses how to help your family not lose sight of God and the gospel during the holidays. He explains why it's worth it to prioritize family worship with your loved ones (whether or not you have kids), shares practical steps for actually doing it even when the kids are little and won't sit still, and offers advice and encouragement for single moms or women whose husbands aren't Christians
John Piper discusses the case for complementarianism. He shares about how his own upbringing—and the example of his parents—influenced his views on marriage, what a husband's leadership practically looks like day-in and day-out, and how we should think about complementarianism in the MeToo era.
Derek Thomas discusses John Calvin's enduring legacy. He reflects on the importance of predestination and election in John Calvin's theology as a whole, describes what it would have been like to have Calvin as your pastor, and explains what really happened when Michael Servetus was put to death in the town where Calvin ministered.
Graham Cole discusses what the Bible really teaches us about angels. He talks about the different kinds of angels mentioned in Scripture, whether or not every person has a guardian angel, the nature of demon possession today, and what we know about the when, why, and how of Satan's fall.
Gavin Ortlund explores whether or not Protestant Evangelicals are out of touch with church history. He discusses the rich legacy of Christian thinking that evangelicals have as their own heritage, the dangers of ignoring church history as if it doesn't matter and has no bearing on our lives today, and how to appreciate and learn from other Christians in the past without letting go of our own doctrinal convictions.
Michael Reeves discusses what the Protestant Reformation was really all about, and whether or not it's still relevant today. He reflects on the relationship between Protestants and Roman Catholics, explains what Martin Luther was trying to accomplish when he posted his 95 theses, and responds to the idea that the Reformation is responsible for widespread disunity among Christians today.
Fred Sanders discusses what it really means to say that God is a Trinity—three persons in one God. He explains why the doctrine of the Trinity is essential to the gospel even if it seems abstract or confusing, highlights why all analogies and metaphors are of limited value when thinking about the Godhead, and responds to the charge that the idea of three-in-one when it comes to the Trinity is inherently illogical or irrational.
John Onwuchekwa discusses what it means to have a real relationship with God through prayer. He shares about the day he received a phone call letting him know that his older brother had just died unexpectedly, and the impact that news had on his prayer life, ultimately leading him into a new level of honesty and deeper intimacy with God. He also talks about what we should do when we feel guilty about our prayer lives, and why prayer is intensely practical even when it feels like we're being unpr...
Joe Rigney explores the legacy of one of the most beloved Christian thinkers and writers of the 20th century—C. S. Lewis. He discusses how Lewis managed to so brilliantly capture the complexities of the human heart in his writings, what he thought about The Lord of the Rings written by his good friend, J. R. R. Tolkien, and what he might say to the American church if he were alive today.
Dennis Johnson discusses Hebrews 6:4–6, one of the New Testament's most famous—and debated—warning passages, a section of Scripture that many people think teaches that Christians can lose their salvation. He explains why he doesn't think that's what the author of Hebrews was saying, how to respond when people who once claimed to be Christians walk away from God, and whether or not we can be certain about our own salvation.
Lindsey Carlson explores what it looks like for parents to intentionally disciple their teens. She offers advice on helping young people use social media wisely, shares how she and her husband have sought to cultivate a culture of honesty and vulnerability in their home, and highlights the one thing she wishes someone would have told her about parenting teenagers.
Dane Ortlund discusses the life and legacy of Jonathan Edwards, the 18th century preacher most famous for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." He reflects on his ministry as a pastor, how the beauty of God fit into Edwards's approach to the Christian life, and what we can learn from him almost 300 year later.
John Piper discusses God's sovereignty, pastoral burnout, and the sin of racism. He reflects on how it is that God can be absolutely sovereign and yet humans be morally accountable, explains how he sought to protect himself from moral failure and burnout as a pastor, and recounts his own struggle with racism and prejudice as a young man.
Greg Forster discusses whether or not the first Christians were socialists, reflecting on how believers should think about our global economy, the right way to respond to increasing income inequality in the US, and why Christians should be the most generous people on earth.
Peter Williams answers a crucial question: can we really trust the New Testament Gospels? He discusses what it means the Bible is inspired, why we can have confidence that our modern English Bibles are consistent with the original manuscripts, and how we should approach apparent contradictions in the New Testament.
Iain Duguid discusses Satan and demons, explaining what the Bible really teaches us about the devil, how to avoid overestimating or underestimating his impact on the world and even on our day-to-day lives, and why our culture seems fascinated by demons when it comes to horror movies and Halloween.
John MacArthur digs into what it takes to persevere as a pastor. He explains why it seems like pastoral failure and burnout are more common than ever, why pastors should avoid ‘Yes Men’ at all costs, how a car accident helped confirm his call to ministry, and what he’s learned from over 5 decades of ministry at a single church.
Scott Klusendorf discusses abortion and the current state of the pro-life movement. He highlights the biggest mistakes pro-life people tend to make when discussing abortion, explains why be believes pictures of aborted children are important to see, and responds to some of the most common pro-choice arguments and slogans.
Alasdair Groves explains the importance of emotions, and what the Bible teaches about them. He highlights how our emotions relate to our reason, ways we tend to over- or under-emphasize emotions, the role modern medications should play in managing our emotional life, and why negative emotions aren’t always a bad thing.
Justin Taylor reflects on the immense importance of church history, highlighting why it’s important to make time for it alongside our study of the Bible, responding to the criticism that many modern Reformed folks have a shallow understanding of the past, and offering advice for thinking about the sins and blindspots of our theological heroes.
Thabiti Anyabwile reflects on the value and benefits of local church membership, showing what the Bible really teaches about the idea of formal membership, sharing his heart for those who feel like they've been hurt by the institutional church, and explaining how to work through areas of doctrinal, practical, and political disagreement with other people in the church.
Mark Vroegop shares his family’s story of loss and grief when confronted with the death of his unborn daughter, recounting how God used that experience to introduce him to the biblical concept of lament—an honest yet faith-filled way of relating to our pain illustrated throughout Scripture.
Justin Buzzard offers advice for husbands eager to love and serve their wives on a daily basis. He highlights why men should prioritize their marriages in tangible ways, offering practical advice for creating an annual “Date-Your-Wife Plan” that goes beyond the occasional dinner and a movie.
