Episode 499: Election Results and Analysis
In the freshest episode of the podcast ever recorded, Bob, Dusty, and Chris turn on the mics at 5:30am to offer their real-time responses to the 2024 election.
Nov 06, 2024•38 min
The Wednesday Conversation
A weekly conversation about how the gospel of Jesus Christ connects to the questions and issues of everyday life. Hosted by the leaders of Coram Deo Church in Omaha, Nebraska.
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Episodes
Episode 498: The Long Lifespans in Genesis
“When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness…The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years” (Genesis 5:3–4). When we come across these massive human lifespans in the book of Genesis, how are we to make sense of them? In this episode, we discuss the literary function of numbers, the symbolic significance of numbers in the Ancient Near East, and the importance of attentive reading as we grow in our love for the Scriptures.
Oct 23, 2024•36 min
Episode 497: Who are the Nephilim?
“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them” (Genesis 6:4). Texts like Genesis 6 raise profound questions and don’t always offer easy explanations. In this episode, we discuss the perplexing topic of the Nephilim. Exploring some of the intertextual connections in Scripture, we survey the historical interpretations and try to shed some light on this strange episode in the Genesis narrative....
Oct 16, 2024•38 min
Episode 496: Who is the Serpent?
" Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made" (Genesis 3:1). Why does this talking serpent suddenly appear in the Genesis narrative? Drawing inspiration from Michael Heiser’s book The Unseen Realm , we dig into how ancient readers understood the concept of spiritual beings, how those beings are described in later passages of Scripture, and how these insights help us become more imaginative readers of the biblical story....
Oct 09, 2024•34 min
Episode 495: Was the Flood Universal or Local?
"I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh... Everything that is on the earth shall die," God says in Genesis 6:17. So was Noah's flood a global deluge that covered the entire earth? Or was it a regional event? By even asking this question, are we playing fast and loose with the text? In this episode we take up some of the questions surrounding the flood narrative in Genesis 6-9.
Oct 02, 2024•27 min
Episode 494: Can We Still Believe in Adam and Eve?
The veracity and historicity of Genesis is taken for granted by the New Testament authors and by Jesus himself. Yet many modern Christians feel the tension of holding a high view of Genesis while also weighing the claims of modern science. In this episode, we respond to a listener's question about how to properly read Genesis, taking into account the claims of geology, archaeology, and genetic science. Can we still believe in a historical Adam and Eve? Or are they merely legendary characters in ...
Sep 25, 2024•34 min
Episode 493: Let’s Talk Genesis 2
After creating the heavens and the earth, God rests. The principle of Sabbath becomes a major theme throughout the rest of Scripture. Aaron Mattox joins us to discuss how this theme of Sabbath-rest is emphasized and developed within the biblical storyline, and what it means for us today.
Sep 18, 2024•37 min
Episode 492: What God’s Up To In Kathmandu
Dusty’s back, everyone! Also Chris returned from his trip to Nepal. In this episode, Chris shares some highlights from his trip, including some updates on the growth and health of the church in Kathmandu.
Sep 11, 2024•26 min
Episode 491: Let's Talk Genesis 1
Genesis is an intriguing book, and a complicated one. It forms the prelude to the entire biblical narrative. In this episode, Aaron Mattox joins us to discuss some of the particulars of Genesis 1, and how we can grow as good and faithful Bible readers.
Sep 04, 2024•35 min
Episode 490: Bob Wrote a Book
It's book release week! Bob's latest book Gospel Training for Deacons hit the shelves on August 27. We thought it would be a good time to discuss the book and respond to a listener's question about how Bob approaches the writing process and what he emphasizes as he writes.
Aug 28, 2024•34 min
Episode 489: The Difference Between Sin & Immaturity
How should we understand the difference between sin and immaturity? To put it simply: one is moral/ethical and the other is not. In this episode, we parse out how to identify spiritual, emotional, or relational immaturity. We also explore how the gospel helps us grow out of immaturity into deeper wisdom.
Aug 21, 2024•Ep. 27
Episode 488: Cathedrals
Cathedrals have long captured the imagination of human beings. But why? What is it about these sacred spaces that evokes a sense of wonder and beauty? On his recent vacation, Chris visited several cathedrals in Spain; upon his return, we discuss the importance of developing a Christian aesthetic and how it can lead us to a deeper worship of God.
Aug 14, 2024•34 min
Episode 487: TWC Commentary | The Shift in Pro-Life Politics
Christians are a pro-life people. In the past, the pro-life strategy was fairly straightforward: help pregnant moms and work toward the repeal of Roe v. Wade. But the Dobbs Decision in 2022 brought about a shift in legislative strategy and tactics. In this episode, Bob uses Rusty Reno's categories of principle and prudence to discuss political platforms, state-level ballot initiatives, and how Christians can work together with grace and charity. Article: https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusive...
Aug 07, 2024•32 min
Episode 486: From the Archives | Typology in the Bible
The whole Old Testament points beyond itself for fulfillment and anticipates the coming of Jesus Christ. In this episode from 2017, we discuss how understanding typology can enrich our reading of the Bible and sharpen our theological clarity.
Jul 31, 2024•27 min
Episode 485: TWC Commentary | The New Populism Is Here to Stay
It’s an election year, friends! And newsworthy events in American politics are taking place almost every day. Recently, Donald Trump decided to make JD Vance his running mate. That choice marks a new moment in American politics: it signifies that populism is here to stay. In this episode, Bob unpacks some insights from political scientist Damon Linker about how this new populism differs from traditional conservatism, what it means for the Republican and Democratic parties, and how Christians sho...
Jul 24, 2024•34 min
Episode 484: The Sins That We Don’t See
What does gospel renewal look like as Christians mature in their walk with the Lord? Drawing from the work of Tim Keller and John Newton, we look at how even our strengths and virtues have a "shadow side" that leads to selfishness and sin. We talk about how we can humbly acknowledge these “small faults" and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit more fully in our lives. Article: https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/wisdom-of-john-newton/...
Jul 17, 2024•31 min
Episode 483: Does Christian Love Require Open Borders?
In an article for First Things, Brad Littlejohn uses traditional Christian moral theology to tackle the issues of immigration and national borders. In this episode, we summarize Littlejohn’s arguments, how the analogy of a house and home helps create distinctions, and how governments and Christians are called to act with wise judgment and prudence within our finitude and limitations. Article: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2024/06/theology-of-immigration...
Jul 10, 2024•37 min
Episode 482: TWC Commentary | When You Shouldn’t Trust “The Science”
Wiley and Sons, the largest publisher of scientific journals in the world, announced that they had found over 8,000 junk papers—papers written by artificial intelligence but attached to the name of a researcher—and were pausing publications of several scientific journals. Bob takes some time to unpack the implications of this and what happens when we make “The Science” the ultimate authority.
Jun 19, 2024•17 min
Episode 481: The Omnicause
In a recent article, Mary Harrington uses the term “omnicause” to describe how progressivism opposes whatever is considered mainstream, institutional, or Western. In this episode, we discuss where Harrington’s analysis has validity, where we might disagree, and how Christians can practice good cultural apologetics in this moment.
Jun 12, 2024•26 min
Episode 480: TWC Commentary | What Did Harrison Butker Say?
Harrison Butker, the placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, has received a lot of ire from media outlets following a speech he made at the commencement of Benedictine College. In this episode, Bob breaks down the context in which his speech was given, what Butker said and didn’t say, and what it looks like for Christians to live with courageous convictions in their vocations. Speech Transcript: https://www.ncregister.com/news/harrison-butker-speech-at-benedictine...
Jun 05, 2024•34 min
Episode 479: From the Archives | The Three Phases of Discipleship
What does discipleship to Jesus look like over the course of your life? And how does that change as you move into different seasons of life? In 2018, we used Ronald Rolheiser’s book “Sacred Fire” to discuss the three phases of discipleship and how that helps us to frame discipleship in the local church.
May 29, 2024•33 min
Episode 478: Making Faith Magnetic
How can we have meaningful evangelistic conversations with our non-Christian friends and family? In his book “Making Faith Magnetic,” Dr. Dan Strange develops the work of J.H. Bavinck, proposing 5 "magnetic points" that are present within every human and every culture. In this episode, we analyze these magnetic points, explore their "subversive fulfillment" in Jesus, and consider how they can be useful in talking about faith. Book Link: https://www.thegoodbook.com/making-faith-magnetic...
May 22, 2024•34 min
Episode 477: Takeaways from the Keller Center
After gathering in NYC with the other fellows of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, Bob shares some insights he gained and lessons he learned. He also discusses some of the ways the fellows are seeking to apply the intellectual work of the Keller Center to the practices of the local church.
May 15, 2024•32 min
Episode 476: The Need for Competence
Human beings have an inherent desire to be good at something. But becoming competent requires self-awareness and humility. In this episode, we lay the groundwork for how the gospel frees us to admit our strengths & weaknesses, discover our aptitudes, and grow in competence.
May 08, 2024•34 min
Episode 475: From the Archives | Taking Church Membership Seriously
Why does church membership matter? In this episode from 2016, we discuss the importance of being committed to the local church.
May 01, 2024•32 min
Episode 474: An Interview with Johan Verster | Part 2
This episode continues Bob's conversation with special guest Johan Verster, exploring the particulars of Ligpunt Church and the context of growing and planting churches in South Africa.
Apr 24, 2024•30 min
Episode 473: An Interview with Johan Verster | Part 1
Bob sat down with Pastor Johan Verster during his time in the United States to talk about his story, his journey to faith, and how he came to plant Ligpunt Church in Pretoria, South Africa.
Apr 17, 2024•33 min
Episode 472: From the Archives | Four Views of Communion
It’s easy for the sacrament of communion to become commonplace, and it can be tempting for Christians to participate mindlessly. Many Christians may not know the answers to questions like, “What is communion?” and “Why do we observe it regularly?” In 2019, we decided to spend some time discussing the sacrament of communion - the four main views surrounding it and how we choose to practice it in our local churches.
Apr 10, 2024•31 min
Episode 471: Where the Trans Conversation is Headed
In a recent article for New York Magazine, Andrea Long Chu asserts the belief that kids should have the freedom to change their bodies and sexual identity at any time for any reason. In this episode, we discuss what that means for the direction of culture and society, and how Christians can courageously and faithfully uphold the traditional sexual ethic.
Apr 03, 2024•31 min
Episode 470: The Resurrection As History
For much of the 20th century, the resurrection of Jesus was believed by Christians as a matter of faith, but doubted by scholars as a matter of history. NT Wright’s book “The Resurrection of the Son of God” changed all that. In this episode, we survey Wright’s major argument for the historicity of the resurrection, and explore how his work can help us interact with skeptics.
Mar 27, 2024•41 min
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