Off Stage with Greg and RD: Recent Episodes
Fellowship Church
Through breaking down Biblical texts, discussing prevalent news and relevant topics, and bringing both humor and wisdom to the conversation, Off Stage with Greg and RD showcases how these two pastors have a passion for educating people on theology and how it relates to our current culture.
Marijuana exists in a gray area and as more states move towards decriminalization and legalization for both medicinal and recreational use, how are we as followers of Jesus to engage this?
As Greg and RD mentioned, this summer we’re doing a Revelation Vodcast. We will have more information soon.
Greg references 1 Corinthians 6:12.
RD reads from Galatians 15:13-25.
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Last week a new development from the Supreme Court has ignited the abortion debate here in the US. In this special response episode, Greg and RD offer their opinions on what this means and give a vision for how we as Christians can respond.
Greg references our earlier episode on Biblical Worldview and Abortion with Stacie Johnson.
RD references an article in Politico that broke this story.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
What does the Bible say about the Death Penalty? Does the death penalty honor God? And how are we to approach this as followers of Jesus? Greg and RD discuss this hot topic as always through the lens of scripture.
Greg and RD reference Genesis 9:6.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Ok, so Jesus comes back from the dead and then what happens next? Today Greg and RD dive into the Ascension and how vital this doctrine is to our theology and our walks with Christ.
Today we’re talking about the Ascension in Acts 1:6-11.
Greg references Luke 24:42.
RD references Hebrews 10:11.
RD references Matthew 28:16-20.
Greg references are past episode Is it Mystery or is it Chaos?
RD reads from John 14:1-3.
Greg references 1 Corinthians 15:14.
Greg references Ephesians 4:8.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Join us this Holy Week each day as we follow the story beginning on Palm Sunday all the way through Easter.
It’s Easter Sunday. He’s alive. Today we’re telling the story as recorded in Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-44 and John 20:1-29.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Join us this Holy Week each day as we follow the story beginning on Palm Sunday all the way through Easter.
Today is Holy Saturday. In the Gospels this is recorded in Matthew 27:62-66.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Join us this Holy Week each day as we follow the story beginning on Palm Sunday all the way through Easter.
Today is Good Friday. In the Gospels, Friday is recorded in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 22-23 and John 18-19.
RD references The Passion of the Christ.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Join us this Holy Week each day as we follow the story beginning on Palm Sunday all the way through Easter.
Today is Maundy Thursday. We are looking at a few texts but specifically the Upper Room Discourse in John 13-17. Also see Matthew 26, Mark 14 and Luke 22.
RD references a Todd Agnew song “Did You Know?”
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Join us this Holy Week each day as we follow the story beginning on Palm Sunday all the way through Easter.
Today we are discussing the Anointing at Bethany in Mark 14, Matthew 26 and John 12.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Join us this Holy Week each day as we follow the story beginning on Palm Sunday all the way through Easter. Today we are discussing Jesus’s Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13 and 14 and Luke 21.
RD references 1 Peter 2:1-10.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Join us this Holy Week each day as we follow the story beginning on Palm Sunday all the way through Easter.
Today we are discussing Jesus cursing the fig tree in Mark 11, Matthew 21 and Luke 13.
Greg references Romans 11:11-24.
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Join us this Holy Week each day as we follow the story beginning on Palm Sunday all the way through Easter. Today, we're meditating on the Triumphal Entry recorded in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19 and John 12.
The Triumphal Entry is recorded in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19 and John 12
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Most people didn't sign up to fight in a culture war. But we see them all around us and today Greg and RD talk about institutions, how they are central to culture and how we as followers of Christ play a role in shaping them.
Greg references 1 Corinthians 5:12
Greg and RD reference Greg’s sermon from Sunday.
Oh did y'all know Greg was from Texas? He alludes to that in this episode (surprise surprise).
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
In our reading of the Bible, we often forget to realize this is a real story with real people in a real place. Today Greg and RD discuss how reading it through this lens is essential to our life in Christ.
Greg references our recent episode on Chaos vs. Mystery.
RD references Hebrews 11
RD references A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
Greg references Matthew 12
RD references The Innkeeper by John Piper
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
On today's episode Greg and R.D. dive into what baptism and the Lord's Supper mean to us. Are we saved because of them or do we do them because we are saved? What are specifics for how we are to take part in them? We answer these questions and so many more.
Here’s the story Greg and RD are referencing
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A lot of times, God's plan doesn't make sense to us. But is He still in control? Will He bring good from it? And can we trust Him? The answer is yes even when things still don't make sense. Join us as Greg and RD approach this topic Biblically and from their personal experiences.
Greg references his sermon The Word and the Dragon
Greg references 2 Peter 1:3
Greg references Psalm 89
Greg references Hebrews 5:8
Greg references 2 Corinthians 12:1-4
RD references John 16:12-13
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Greg and R.D. share what's been on their hearts and minds with regards to the conflict in Ukraine and what that means for Christians in a world that feels more frightening every day.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
This week, Greg and RD are joined by Stacie Johnson to discuss abortion through the lens of a biblical worldview. How can we as believers be faithful to scripture in this area? Does science agree with the Bible? How can we engage our friend's with grace and truth?
This podcast is part of a series with our sister podcast, Life Reframed. Find their episode here.
Stacie Johnson is the Pastor of Equipping & Worldview Formation at Fellowship Church as part of the Adult Ministries Team. Her interests are in discipleship, the Gospel and how they play out in culture.
Stacie references Scott Klusendorf who wrote The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture.
RD references The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries by Rodney Stark
Stacie references Deeper Still ministries in Knoxville, TN.
RD references Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Stacie provided these resources for further education:
-A debate between Nadine Strossen and Scott Klusendorf that showcases both sides of the issues.
- Break Point from the Colson Center is a great resource for all things worldview.
RD reads from Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV):
13
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
It’s Christmas time which means we’re having a Q&A addressing questions such as “Does the Bible condone slavery?” And “What do I do when someone tells me they’ve heard a word from God?”. Also, of course, Greg and RD share some of their Christmas season favorites and hot takes.
Here’s an article from the Gospel Coalition that RD references.
Greg references Exodus 21:16
RD references Powers and Thrones by Dan Jones
RD references Acts 16 -17
RD references 2 Corinthians 8
RD references Psalm 37:4
Christmas Films referenced:
Elf
It’s a Wonderful Life
Home Alone
Home Alone 2
Merry Christmas y’all.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
This week, Greg and RD invited their wives, Emily and Jen on the show to discuss Thanksgiving traditions and hot takes.
Both Emily and Jen are artists and you can find their work online.
Greg and RD start by referring back to an earlier episode about Hot Takes. This is where you can find RD’s take on Aubrey’s.
The film 2003 film Elf is referenced.
Andrew Peterson’s Christmas album Behold the Lamb of God is referenced.
THE Q&A IS HAPPENING. Submit questions via offstage@fellowshipknox.org
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD examine gambling in light of wisdom and the Gospel. Is Gambling a sin? How do we discern if it's wise to participate? Is it simply "all in good fun"?
Greg references 1 Corinthians 6 throughout the podcast.
RD references Colossians 3:2
Greg references Hebrews 12:1-3
RD references the television show Mad Men.
RD reads Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
This week, Greg and RD dig into Jesus' uncanny ability to defy and subvert everyone's expectations and understandings of him.
Greg references John 6
RD references a book by Jared C. Wilson, Your Jesus is Too Safe
RD references Colossians 1:15
RD reads from Matthew 11:1-6
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Finding ourselves, creating ourselves and self-actualization are conversations our culture is hyper-focused on right now. But Jesus speaks of denying ourselves as the way. What does this mean for us in 2021 as people and as the church?
Greg and RD start by referring back to an earlier episode about Hot Takes. This is where you can find RD’s take on Aubrey’s.
Greg references an easier episode The Dangers of The Therapeutic Gospel
Greg references the documentary The Way Down
RD references a quote from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity:
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
Greg references Mark 1:16-20
Greg references John 21
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You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Are ghosts real? Aren't there ghosts in the Bible? What about demons? Would RD dress up as Batman? This week, Greg and RD tackle all of these questions and more.
Greg and RD Mention Kyle Landis who is the Pastor of Mobilization at Fellowship Church.
Greg and RD reference a quote from CS Lewis in The Screwtape Letters
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
Greg discusses 2 Corinthians 12
RD References Live No Lies by John Mark Comer
RD References Colossians 1:20
Greg references a 1st season episode Does God Car About Football?
Greg references Jude 9
RD references Ephesians 6
Greg references Acts 16
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Continuing our series going through every book of the Bible, RD and Greg dive into Acts and discuss the Apostles, stories of the early church and the theology we find in the book.
This episode is part of a series going through the books of the Bible. Here’s past episodes:
1 Peter
Genesis
Romans
Matthew
Did we mention we did Romans?
And also Romans
RD references the Bible Project
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
The term "Church" can mean a variety of things to different people, some good, some not so good. But what does the Bible say the Church is and what does the Word command us about relating to "The Bride of Christ"?
RD references the sermon he preached entitled New Family about the church’s role in our lives as we become new people, in a new family on a new mission.
Greg mentions Off Stage episode 3: Deep Dive: The Bible is God Breathed.
Greg references a passage in 1 Corinthians 11:19
Greg references the past episodes Reactions to the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and When Leaders Fall
Greg references the Parable of the Weeds from Matthew 13:24-20:22
Greg talks about Fellowship Church’s leadership structure.
RD references 1 Thessalonians 2:8
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
This week, Greg and RD assess the phrase "faith over fear" in light of the Bible.
RD references our Deep Dive episode on How to Study the Bible
Greg references last week’s wild episode Hot Take America, check it out.
Greg references Matthew 10:28
RD references Hebrews 11:1
Greg references Proverbs 9:10
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
This week, Greg and RD venture into the tumultuous world of hot takes. Buckle up folks, it's a wild one.
Here’s the Luther insult generator, you bungling magpies.
Greg references Galatians 6:6-10
Creed was a band in the early 2000’s that some parents wouldn’t allow their kids to listen to.
Greg and RD reference the 2003 film Love Actually
RD References James 1:26
RD References Proverbs 15:4
The podcast editor felt left out and would like to offer a hot take: The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy is pretty good.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
This week, Greg and R.D. are digging into missions and what it means for the church.
Greg references Galatians 2 and Acts 15.
RD references 1 Peter 2:8-10
RD references Colossians 1:28-29
Greg references Galatians 6:10
Greg references Ephesians 2:8-10
RD references James 2:14-26
RD references Isaiah 6:8
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD investigate “Purity Culture” and its effects on the lives of Christians in the past and present.
Greg mentions a previous episode on the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast.
Greg and RD discuss Joshua Harris’s appearance on the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill as well as his controversial book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye.
Greg and RD reference the book “Every Man’s Battle”
Greg of course references Romans 3:23 - 26
You can find Fellowship Church’s position papers here.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD reference the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
Greg references the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995.
Greg and RD reference the Soviet Union Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
RD references Isaiah 25.
Greg references Isaiah 6.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
You can also e-mail questions or topic ideas to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD are talking about the new podcast series from Christianity Today “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill”
Greg references the Theranos scandal and the trial of former CEO, Elizabeth Holmes.
RD references the recent resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
RD references the 2015 film, Spotlight.
RD references the book The Cult of We: WeWork, Adam Neumann and the Great Startup Delusion.
RD uses the example of Steve Job and Apple.
Greg and RD spend considerable time talking about the emerging church.
RD reads a passage from Matthew 20:24-28.
Rd references Paul on Mars Hill from Acts 17:22-31
In today’s episode, Greg and R.D. discuss a wide range of issues regarding Covid, vaccines and ways we have to think about moving forward. This episode was recorded weeks ago so some of the information has been modified. We wanted to provide some examples of information that we discuss.
The Delta variant is a large percentage of the new cases https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2021/08/24/tennessee-surpasses-one-million-covid-19-infections-amid-delta-surge/8250606002/
The alpha variant was the first identified variant of Covid-19, not the original virus.
The contagion level of the Delta variant was considered possibly the most infectious respiratory virus known to us. As information grew, it settled to a position in the most contagious ones. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/08/11/1026190062/covid-delta-variant-transmission-cdc-chickenpox
The Lambda variant of Covid-19 is causing researchers to wonder if it will be resistant to vaccines. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2021/08/10/it-is-time-to-pay-close-attention-to-the-lambda-variant-now-devastating-south-america/?sh=2407d2c84348
Greg mentions stories about Russian intelligence operations pushing false information about vaccines into the American culture before 2019. Here is an example of one- https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/23/health/russia-trolls-vaccine-debate-study/index.html
The CDC has been asked by the press on several issues about ways it was reporting false or misleading information. Here is an example- https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/05/cdc-and-states-are-misreporting-covid-19-test-data-pennsylvania-georgia-texas/611935/
Another
https://slate.com/technology/2021/07/noble-lies-covid-fauci-cdc-masks.html
The vaccine controversy began with a false claim linking autism to vaccines. https://time.com/5175704/andrew-wakefield-vaccine-autism/
The show note writers were kind enough to provide a link to a google search for "Russia Anti-Vax" as Greg suggested.
"Man's nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols"- John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
Greg and RD are talking about US Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and her withdrawal from multiple competitions at the games.
RD references the documentary Golden.
Greg references Dak Prescott opening up about his mental health as well as tennis player Naomi Osaka.
The basketball player Greg casually mentions that you might have heard of before.
Greg mentions the Open Door podcast episodes on mental health:
Anxiety and Depression - Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety and Depression - Walking Through Anxiety
Anxiety and Depression - What is Depression
Anxiety and Depression - Walking Through Depression
Greg references Larry Nassar, a former doctor for USA Gymanastics who was sentenced to prison in 2018 for sexual assault.
Tetsushi Sakamoto is the Japanese Minister of Loneliness.
RD references the book series “Emotionally Healthy” by Peter and Geri Scazzero.
Here is the tweet from Simone Biles that RD references.
For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. - 1 Corinthians 3:9 (ESV)
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The Most Magical Place on Earth. Walt Disney World and Disney itself is a world of magic, escape, and storytelling.
What has Disney tapped into? What do their stories reveal about the Story? How do Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Toy Story hint at the story at the gospel?
The biography of Walt Disney that RD mentioned is linked here. Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination https://www.amazon.com/dp/0679757473/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_JDH9D5C4BX2RM2H8S96X
Greg and RD will be hosting a live Off Stage Q&A on Thursday, May 20, in Fellowship's student center. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, and the Q&A will begin at 7 pm. Send your questions to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
Greg takes time to explain capitalism and Marxism, as well as give some history on these ways of thought.
RD breaks down some Biblical texts showing that the means of production ultimately is owned by God, and we are stewards of this.
Greg references the 2015 movie The Big Short, and RD references the book The Smartest Guys in the Room.
Greg brings up a quote from Animal Farm, and discusses antitrust laws.
Finally, Greg and RD talk about Acts 2 and sharing things as Believers.
Greg and RD will be hosting a live Off Stage Q&A on Thursday, May 20, in Fellowship's student center. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, and the Q&A will begin at 7 pm. Send your questions to offstage@fellowshipknox.org
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
RD and Greg start their conversation by talking about Columbine.
They discuss the sin and Satan element in murder by looking at Cain and Abel.
Greg mentions that sometimes we don’t know why a mass shooter commits the crime, like with the Las Vegas country music festival shooting. He also mentions how much the Sandy Hook school shooting affected him personally.
Greg takes time to explain assault weapons and brings up an article by David French.
Greg brings up the movie One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.
RD mentions Fellowship's Counseling department, and encourages those who could benefit from counseling.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
To contact Greg or RD, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
In today’s episode, Greg and R.D. talk about Major League Baseball’s decision to pull the All Star game out of Georgia because of the new election laws. How does the interaction of corporate America and political America intersect and how should Christians engage the issue? More than all this- what does this tell us about ourselves and how we disagree and interact with one another?
Greg and RD dive into things like the motivation behind posting things on social media and what it's like to be a "digital natives" (someone who has grown up with social media, and has always had a social media account). They also discuss how social media can shape your world or make you feel discontent (which can make you post "digital self-harm"), and make you feel close to people that you're not actually close to in real life.
Greg references The Social Dilemma on Netflix, as well as an article by Psychology Today.
RD brings up a quote from William Temple: "Religion is what you do with your solitude.”
For more on social media and the Gospel, check out this article or this article from The Gospel Coalition.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
To contact Greg or RD, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD jump right into their discussion by talking about the Trinity, then reinforcing that the Holy Spirit is a person.
Greg cautions listeners when they are breaking down or splitting up the Trinity; he mentions using the Economic Trinity teaching to help understand how the Trinity works.
The two repeat that the Spirit's job is to point people to Jesus, not to Himself; the Spirit is constantly reminding us of Jesus' words and commandments.
Greg and RD transition into talking about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. RD conveys that knowing your spiritual gifts is not self-seeking; your gifts are given to you to build up the body of Christ. Greg emphasizes that if your gift is not serving the Gospel, then it's not from the Holy Spirit.
One of the last things they talk about is how the Holy Spirit is our guarantee as a Believer.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
To contact Greg or RD, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
RD and Greg jump into 1 Peter with some history of the book, including who authored it. RD states early on that 1 Peter was written to the "elect exiles."
Greg reveals that the major themes of 1 Peter are suffering, the divinity of Jesus, and the apocalypse. RD adds that we shouldn't be surprised when we experience suffering as a Believer because we are told again and again in the Bible to expect suffering.
Greg points out that our faith is more valuable than our circumstances, as is explained in 1 Peter. He also explains sanctification for listeners.
RD brings up what 1 Peter has to say about shepherding God's people, particularly the elderly.
Greg references 1 Peter 3, and explains how we on earth will never fully understand God or the Bible, but that doesn't mean we can't still trust the Bible.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
To contact Greg or RD, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
After introducing their more PG-13 subject of pornography, Greg explains some history behind how we got to where we are. RD is quick to point out that this issue affects both men and women.
The two discuss how there are often only two schools of thought about pornography: It is the unforgivable sin (which leads to shame and not real conversation), or it's celebrated as providing sexual freedom.
Greg is emphatic that it is not a sin to look at someone and be attracted sexually to them because God created us to be attracted to them. It becomes a sin when the thought turns to lust. RD adds that pornography is bad because it makes sex transactional and takes away the covenant partnership tied to sex.
Greg brings up society's attachment to technology; he references the hikikomori in Japan and an article by Maggie Jones.
RD implores listeners to have real conversations about pornography so as to bring freedom to those in its bondage. He mentions how Jesus was friends with and forgave prostitutes and those living in sin as a way to show that Jesus pursues all of us no matter what we've done.
As an additional resource for kids, Greg references a book called Good Pictures Bad Pictures.
RD and Greg transition into helping listeners know how to react and what to say when someone in their life confesses to them that they watch porn. Greg specifically speaks to people getting into new relationships, and how to handle when the other person says they watch porn.
As they wrap up, the two reference resources available at Fellowship Church, like the counseling department.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
To contact Greg or RD, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
The two start the conversation looking at Revelation and Genesis to show that throughout the Bible, Scriptures speak of multiple ethnic races.
Greg is quick to point out that even though much of the Bible focuses on one race (the Israelites), that doesn't mean that these people are "God's favorite nation," because the goal seen in the New Testament is for the people of God to be unified.
Greg brings up the first miracle of the Christian church, which is in Acts when the Holy Spirit falls on the people and they all hear their own language. Greg calls this the reversal and anti-tower of Babel.
RD and Greg transition to discussing Peter and Paul's issue around food, and how it had become "religious racism" as Greg calls it.
In thinking about race and where we are in the US right now, Greg asserts that the most important thing about us is not our race or how we identify socially, it's that we are in Christ; those of us in Christ are one in Him. RD affirms that who we are ethnically or what gender we are is important and purposeful, but states again that the most important thing about you is being in Christ. Both RD and Greg profess that whatever gender, race, or ethnicity you are, God designed you that way for a reason, and you have a voice and a reason to be in the conversation.
The two end with a passage from Revelation that effectively sum up the entire conversation.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
To contact Greg or RD, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Greg begins the episode by defining what he and RD call "therapeutic Gospel." Greg is quick to point out that while the Gospel can and should meet you where you are, it is not there to make you feel better; the Gospel exists to show you that you are sinful and broken without Jesus.
Greg references Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton's book about moralistic therapeutic deism to help explain what he and RD are talking about when they say "therapeutic Gospel."
RD brings up that nowhere in the Bible are we told we won't suffer as Believers (in fact just the opposite), regardless of how we pray, because God is in control, not us. RD also adds that if God wanted to do things the easy and quick way, basically the entire Bible and its stories that teach us so many lessons would not exist. The point of our faith, Greg emphasizes, is to bring about God's glory, not our own; it was never about us, but always all about God and His majesty.
Greg reminds listeners of a clip from John Piper where he denounces the "Prosperity Gospel." RD also references a question and John Piper's subsequent answer from a message Piper preached at Angola Prison. He also mentions an illustration of Jesus and a teddy bear, and what's wrong with this illustration. Greg repeats that Christ Himself is always the reward. In closing, RD asserts that Jesus doesn't need us, He just wants us.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
To contact Greg or RD, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
In light of Christian leaders like Ravi Zacharias falling from their ministry, Greg and RD begin this week's episode talking about the trust broken when we as Believers see this happen to people we look up to and respect.
Greg voices that sometimes these types of fallings come from a church or religious organization not having accountability or a leadership board. RD also suggests that when it becomes more about a person or the "cool factor" instead of being about the Gospel, things can be skewed or fall into sin.
RD shifts the conversation to power, and how power is not an evil thing, but power without humility, structure, and accountability can turn into a thirst for power.
Greg takes it to a personal level and brings up how impactful Ravi Zacharias' book 'Can Man Live Without God' was for him, and how you have to reconcile the good and the impactful with the sin. RD emphasizes that God knows everything and nothing takes Him by surprise, so while God can use negative or sinful situations for good, He still knows our hearts and we will be judged for what is in our hearts.
The two shift to the importance of a church having a plurality of leadership. Not only is this Biblical, but it keeps pastors accountable, Greg and RD disclose.
RD circles back to how Christianity is built on Jesus calling to broken and sinful humans and redeeming them. Greg repeats that we need to celebrate the Lord and what He can teach us through brokenness instead of making pastors into celebrities. But, just as we receive grace and forgiveness from Jesus, RD and Greg insist that we have to show grace and forgiveness to others, while holding each other accountable as Believers.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
To contact Greg or RD, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
In light of the political events of January 6, RD and Greg take time to walk through this from a Biblical and theological standpoint.
In Greg and RD's season 3 finale, they hosted a live Q&A, where they answered their listener's questions. Below are the times for all of the questions in this episode.
7:36 - What are some of the biggest learnings for the church in the COVID-19 season?
12:28 - What is karma and is it wrong for Christians to talk or believe in it?
15:59 - Can you or should you date someone who doesn't share your faith?
19:46 - Is it wrong as a Believer to call a non-Christian evil just because they are not a Christian?
23:36 - How do we reconcile what John MacArthur said about COVID-19 restrictions and what we are commanded in Romans 13:1-7?
30:17 - I have a prodigal daughter; if Heaven is a place of perfect peace and happiness, will I just forget my daughter?
33:42 - RD, what is your favorite Creed song?
34:15 - What is the difference between Biblical justice and social justice? Is there a difference?
40:31 - How do we respond to someone who says that if Jeremiah 29:11 isn't for us today, then Paul's writing isn't for us either?
43:33 - If you could only preach one book of the Bible for the rest of your life, which book would it be and why?
45:57 - How do I love a spouse in a Christ-like way who has severe anger issues?
50:18 - What are good resources for the historical Jesus?
53:41 - How would you have a conversation with someone who says they believe in Jesus but does not trust the Bible?
58:06 - What's up with the witch of Endor?
59:58 - How should we feel about the COVID-19 vaccine?
1:06:26 - What books are you reading or enjoy reading?
1:07:18 - What is the most overhyped Christmas movie and song?
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
RD begins this week by reading part of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Greg then jumps into some history of "captive Israel" and the revolution at the birth of Jesus. Greg also mentions the political spectrum of the apostles and disciples of Jesus.
The two then transition to discussing how Jesus came not as a warrior in fire but as a baby, and how miraculous and crazy that is.
RD brings it back to 2020 and how hopeless a year like this would be without the joy of Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Greg references when Father Christmas shows up in 'The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.'
RD and Greg share that Jesus' birth brings hope and a savior to everyone, and breaks all of our bondages.
RD ends the episode by sharing more from O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
RD and Greg will be doing a livestream episode on December 10. To submit your questions for this episode, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
After mentioning their upcoming live Q&A, RD and Greg jump into Biblical theology (revelation theology) versus systematic theology (divides the Bible based on topics).
RD and Greg first address people who say they just want to follow Jesus and not worry about theology or doctrines. RD remembers reading Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem and steers listeners towards this book.
Greg references the noetic effect, and RD emphasizes how important it is for us to read the Bible in this context. The two also caution that we can't just read the New Testament or just the Psalms; we have to read the entire Bible, and see it as a whole entity.
RD and Greg both share how they personally read and study the Bible as a way to encourage listeners to spend time studying the Word. RD assures listeners that no study of the Bible is in vain.
Greg shows how Biblical and systematic theology works hand in hand to give you a complete view of the Bible so that you're not taking a Scripture out of context. Greg and RD specifically reference Jeremiah 29:11, and how quickly we take this verse out of context from not doing Biblical and systematic theology to see the history behind this verse.
To wrap up, Greg assures listeners that God will teach us who He is, and will guide us if we call out to Him. RD repeats that having a spiritual community and reading through the Bible with commentaries are so important to growth in the Lord.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
RD and Greg will be doing a livestream episode in the coming weeks. To submit your questions for this episode, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD jump right into their discussion of Genesis by Greg explaining that the thesis of Genesis is transition. Greg and RD also take time to talk about the compulsion in God to put His glory on display.
The two move on to talking about the serpent in the Garden and how the consequence of creation is sin.
Greg transitions to speaking into how "the line of the elect" is a common theme in Genesis. He mentions Abraham as being deeply connected to this, and how Abraham found favor, grace, and faith. RD references Abraham Heschel's book about responding to God calling us.
Since there is so much contested about the origins of Genesis, Greg instead focuses on Moses, and how he was not only the main prophet of the Old Testament, but was also raised in privilege and was very educated, so he would have been able to frame things well.
Greg then talks about the big movement pieces in Genesis (the fall, the flood, and Abraham), and how we're not made to understand every single aspect of God or the Bible because that's where trust comes into play. RD quickly goes through some stories in Genesis, including Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. He asserts that so much of Genesis is a way in which God works through people's stories to show His goodness and His plan. Greg agrees with this, and goes through some of the stories of the women in Genesis.
RD and Greg close by reiterating that while some of God and the Bible will always be a mystery to us, we see so many glimpses of God's faithfulness, provision, and glory in Genesis.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
In today’s episode RD and Greg discuss what the next four months of winter will look like for followers of Christ. From the fallout from the Presidential election to a rising number of COVID cases RD & Greg look for ways for followers of Christ to cultivate resilience, hope, gratitude, and joy in the winter season ahead.
RD and Greg start this week by talking about creation in the Scriptures versus how culture thinks and talks about environmentalism. Greg reminds listeners that once sin entered the world, things changed in regard to creation, but the care of the earth is definitely still there. RD reiterates that it's a Biblical principle to care for the earth.
Greg spends some time talking about the creation in the Old Testament versus the creation in the New Testament. He then talks about the difference between serving the creator and serving the creation. RD also conveys that because of sin, we don't live in a perfect world, so we have to make hard choices and value people over plants and animals.
Greg transitions to talking about some important things to know about climate change and the environment; he references an article by Forbes and a TED talk by Allan Savory.
RD asserts that it's important to form your opinion on the environment based on what the Bible says, and how God calls us to love and steward the earth well, but also to be willing to have conversations and be practical. Greg expresses that you should do what you can and feel you should do as far as limiting your carbon footprint, but agrees with RD that we need to be willing to converse and engage with those who may have a different opinion than us.
Greg ends by announcing that the answer is in the middle, and to research for yourself.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD start this week with a clip from 'No Country For Old Men' to set up their discussion on evil and darkness.
Greg emphasizes that evil has no respect for the banality of our goodness or morality. RD voices that evil can be hard to talk about, but we have to talk about it.
Greg is quick to point out that there's a difference between sin and evil; all sin is evil to God, but God understands that on a human scale, a white lie is different than murder.
Greg transitions into discussing the anti-hero, and having sympathy for the sinner while pushing into and cultivating the good.
RD spends time talking about explaining good versus evil versus sin as a parent to your children, and the difference between just telling your child no and explaining why something is wrong.
RD closes by reiterating how important it is to name evil in the world, and Greg cautions listeners to make sure we are not calling evil things good.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
Greg starts the episode by talking about The Grand Experiment, classical liberalism, and the social contract. RD jumps in and mentions "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," which was originally "life, liberty, and property."
Greg and RD transition to discussing the tension we live in now of people asking and disagreeing on how far the rule of government actually goes. RD mentions that people's passion and identify can get wrapped up in politics instead of Christianity or their beliefs. Greg brings up Adam Smith's book The Wealth Of The Nations.
From there, Greg and RD spend time conveying where Christianity fits well with classical liberalism and where it doesn't. They also express that our nation currently has too much power in too few hands, and that is not healthy or wise.
Greg speaks into standing up for social justice versus standing up for something that goes against your morals as a Believer, and RD adds that we are called to love our neighbor no matter who that neighbor is or how that neighbor lives.
RD ends the podcast by emphasizing that our hope as Believers is not about who sits in the Oval Office, it's about Who sits in Heaven.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
In response to multiple questions they have received about the end times, RD and Greg spend time talking about eschatology. Greg starts by giving some explanation and description to eschatology. RD chimes in and reminds listeners that eschatology is hope based because at the center is Christ's return.
Greg and RD then dive into what the Scriptures say will happen before and during the end times, things like false prophets and the mark of the beast.
RD is quick to say that even during end times, Christ is still ruling; this is all part of His plan, no matter how confusing Revelation may be for us.
Greg transitions into the millennium and the schools of thought about it:
- Amillennialism
- Premillennialism, which is the school of millennium that books like Left Behind discuss
- Postmillennialism
RD and Greg wrap up by talking through judgement day and condemnation.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD kick off by questioning if very many people (especially young adults) even call themselves evangelicals anymore. Even RD himself says he doesn't use the term to describe himself because of how the word is viewed today.
Greg takes time to share some Christian history, including Catholicism and Protestantism, and the battle over the institutions of Christianity.
Greg and RD share the four tenants that scholars use to describe evangelicals:
- Belief in the authority of the Bible
- Belief in the centrality of the cross
- Belief in conversion and being "born again"
- Belief in engaging the world and being activists
Greg goes through more history, including The Jesus People and a new evangelical movement that we're living through now.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
Greg brings up that some people will develop or believe conspiracy theories about COVID because we have experienced a low-level trauma and want answers as to why.
RD then transitions to talking about what Greg calls "bad actors," aka a cult leader or the person who starts a conspiracy theory. Greg references QAnon and Jehovah's Witnesses as examples of this.
In talking to the people in your life who may be swayed easily by conspiracy theories, RD says that it's important to remember that the truth of the Gospel brings hope and enlightenment, and that we have to take every thought captive. Greg brings up that we have to be aware of confirmation bias when we're talking to people. RD adds that we have to be humble but also confident in the Gospel when we talk to people about conspiracy theories.
To wrap up, Greg reminds listeners that the Bible tells us we will be judged by God for everything we say, so be careful not to slander or speak ill about others.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org about conspiracy theories.
With the rise of interest in conspiracy theories, RD and Greg start the conversation by talking about where conspiracy theories live and why people might believe in them. Greg says that they give answers to large, high-stakes issues for people, and uses the example of theories around autism versus the true reality.
RD reminds listeners that we are not supposed to view everything through the lens of conspiracy theories, we are supposed to view everything through the lens of the Gospel.
Greg brings up that some people will develop or believe conspiracy theories about COVID because we have experienced a low-level trauma and want answers as to why.
RD then transitions to talking about what Greg calls "bad actors," aka a cult leader or the person who starts a conspiracy theory. Greg references QAnon and Jehovah's Witnesses as examples of this.
In talking to the people in your life who may be swayed easily by conspiracy theories, RD says that it's important to remember that the truth of the Gospel brings hope and enlightenment, and that we have to take every thought captive. Greg brings up that we have to be aware of confirmation bias when we're talking to people. RD adds that we have to be humble but also confident in the Gospel when we talk to people about conspiracy theories.
To wrap up, Greg reminds listeners that the Bible tells us we will be judged by God for everything we say, so be careful not to slander or speak ill about others.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org about conspiracy theories.
Greg and RD also unpack the larger cultural narratives of sexuality, social media, and religion that the series deals with, and discuss how followers of Jesus should engage the culture with truth and grace in an increasingly sexualized and digitized world.
In Romans 13, Paul dives into the topic of obeying and being submissive to the governing authorities. Peter brings this subject up again in 1 Peter. So obviously this topic is a Biblically important one, Greg and RD point out.
RD is quick to mention that Paul and Peter were writing in the context of what was happening in Rome at the time, although even today it's necessary to know when to submit to the governing authorities. RD brings up the two extremes of saying you will follow the government no matter what because it's the law, or you'll stand up to it because you think it's going against the teachings of Jesus. RD references John MacArthur's recent statements that fall into the latter category.
Greg dives into more of the history of Romans 13, and references what Jesus said to Pilot about his authority. Greg also asserts that while the government has the right to make decisions, you have the right to question those decisions, just as Paul asserted his rights as a Roman citizen. But, RD warns that if our convictions cause us to say we cannot follow the law, we have to do that in compassion and humility, and really understand what is oppression and what is not. Greg emphasizes that our attitude and posture needs to always be "how are we supposed to be salt and light in this time?"
Greg brings up a modern-day example of the right way to question what we are told by the government to do in questioning why we are being told to wear masks. Greg says that the right thing to do is to ask "why are we being told to wear masks?" versus "You can't make me do this." In other words, having an attitude of "I'll submit to the law, but I'm going to question it."
In closing, Greg references the story of Paul and Philemon as an example of what's right isn't always what's easy.
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Coinciding with the Fellowship Middlebrook sermon series, Greg and RD dive into Romans. Greg starts by sharing that Romans was written by Paul in his prime, and that it is a diatribe. Greg implores listeners to study and read through Romans because of how important it is.
RD spends time going through several of the chapters, and both Greg and RD share the themes seen in these chapters: Justice, wrath, righteousness, grace, and mercy. RD also conveys why Romans was written.
Greg then takes time to briefly talk through predestination and sin, and the questions he always gets around these passages. RD voices some of Paul's history and story. Greg says that Romans 3:24 is the equivalent of the highest rock on Mount Everest.
Greg asserts that there have been objections and questions with the texts in Romans since it was written, but Romans is telling the Gospel, and while we may never fully understand everything, that doesn't mean it's not true. Both Greg and RD together discuss how Paul was concerned about the Kingdom of God, not his own gain.
Greg closes with a quote from Leon Morris that is actually about the book of John, but could also be said about Romans: "[It] is like a swimming pool: Shallow enough that a child may wade and deep enough that an elephant can swim."
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
After a brief introduction and talk of different Fellowship podcasts, RD, Greg, and Rick jump right into the discussion.
Greg begins by sharing what critical race theory is and where it started, and how our culture now says you're either totally racist or you're not racist at all. Rick chimes in and explains why it's so important that we understand the language that's being used and what people mean when they say things about racism. RD adds that everything we do, including talking about race, has to be grounded in a Biblical mindset.
Greg moves the conversation to talking about intersectionality and the three ways that critical race theory explains how the group in power holds its power:
- Hegemonic power - Greg uses the example of Hollywood and beauty and sexuality, and RD brings up Israel in Egypt.
- Moral asymmetry - Greg explains how this theory thinks that the oppressor is always wrong and the oppressed are always right. He gives the example of Sarah Jeong at the New York Times.
- A lived experience trumps everything else - Greg uses the example of what critics would say about three men talking about abortion. But, Rick says that just because the three men don't have the full expression doesn't mean they can't have an authentic expression.
RD spends time discussing how we as Christians need to engage in all social justice issues, and how important our approach is. He also reiterates that everyone is equally lost and in need of Jesus, we just all have different histories. Rick also adds that this is an incredible time in our history to learn how to love each other well. RD references J. I. Packer's book Weakness Is The Way.
To close, Greg looks back at history to show how if we're not careful as a society, we'll just keep repeating our mistakes, and RD reiterates that we always have to point people back to Jesus.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
For their first episode of season three, RD and Greg jump into the conversation of "cancel culture." RD takes a few minutes to explain what they mean by "cancel culture" and talks about how this is a rising cultural issue of people saying you're "canceled" because of something you've done wrong in the eyes of society.
Greg voices that this trend really started on college campuses and has more to do with atonement than reconciliation or forgiveness. But, as Christians, we are called to forgiveness; Greg references Ephesians 4 where Paul talks about being kind to one another. Greg also states that our standard of forgiveness has to be that Jesus forgave you so you have to forgive others. RD brings up the story in the Bible of the woman caught in adultery, and how people wanted to publicly shame and oppress her, but Jesus confronted her sin privately and told her to "sin no more."
Greg brings up that there is so much anonymity on social media, so it's easy to write things on someone's Facebook page who's not really in your life and who you'll never see in real life, but if you wrote the same thing on a coworker's page, you would have to face them the next day, and that drastically changes what you would write on their page. RD jumps in and says that walking away and not commenting on social media is such a lost practice because instead we live in a culture that tells us we have to get the last word.
RD chimes in and points out that Jesus never withdraws support or love from people who are in the wrong; instead, He calls out their sin in truth and love, and then welcomes them to Himself with open arms. Greg references Paul's writing in the books of Corinthians where he says you're a Christian, and God is the only One you belong to, so there shouldn't be divisions among Believers.
RD and Greg wrap up by talking about how Jesus never defined anyone by their worst mistakes, or by their best achievements; instead, He said, "You are defined by Me." RD insists that Jesus will never cancel or kick you out of His House for making a mistake. Greg ends by emphasizing that if we can even offer someone a glimpse of how Jesus forgave us by forgiving them, we should never hesitate to do so.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
In Greg and RD's season 2 finale, they hosted a live Q&A, where they answered their listener's questions. Below are the times for all of the questions in this episode.
2:20 - How do I share the Gospel with someone who has walked away from Christianity?
6:15 - What does the Bible say about marijuana?
11:20 - What does the Bible say about cremation?
14:05 - Does Greg have a history degree? How does Fellowship handle Biblical interpretation?
17:55 - Is the God of the Bible different than the god of Islam and Judaism?
21:58 - What is your favorite verse / what role does Scripture memorization play in your personal walk?
24:28 - If your child were starting to study the Bible on their own, what book would you recommend?
28:13 - What are the Biblical rules about marriage after divorce?
32:20 - What is the definition of legalism?
33:40 - How do you all handle conspiracy theories, particularly with COVID-19?
42:55 - Can you talk about Calvinism?
45:50 - If God has chosen who will be saved, why share the Gospel?
47:30 - Can you pray about something too much?
48:30 - How do I balance generosity and stewardship?
52:28 - Are there rewards based on works in Heaven? What are the different levels?
54:37 - What should my quiet time with the Lord look like?
58:02 - How will I be happy in Heaven if not everyone I love is there?
1:06:05 - Can you offer advice on someone who wants to pursue ministry, and what were your experiences with demonic dreams when you pursued ministry?
1:09:10 - How should we balance the tension of God being in control vs just doing things?
1:13:45 - How do we handle Christians being blamed for everything politically?
1:15:20 - How do you approach people who want to disregard the "difficult" parts of the Bible?
1:19:30 - What do you think about people claiming a prophetic word for someone they don't know?
1:23:00 - Amusing questions from Alex Jordan
Because exile is one of the top themes of the Bible, RD and Greg explore this theme in today's episode. RD starts by sharing that exile does not take long to appear in the Bible; the first mention is Genesis 3. Greg jumps in by sharing exactly what they mean when they say exile, then discusses the exile of Abraham and Moses. RD asserts that these stories show that exile is an integral part of the journey that God has us on, in order to better hear Him. Greg reminds listeners that even Jesus went through exile.
These examples of exile in the Bible lead RD and Greg to talk about how we as Christians are exiles in this world because we are waiting to be reunited with Christ.
Greg and RD then spends some time talking about the Babylonian captivity before conveying how important exile can be, and what God might want to teach you through your exile. RD declares that exile is the grace of wrath because even in the midst of God banishing Adam and Eve from the Garden, there is hope (in Jesus) that one day we will be reunited with God.
From there, Greg and RD tie in their discussion on exile to what our world is going through right now. The two pastors wrap up this episode by sharing how exile can be a gift that God gives in order to bring awareness to His glory.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
RD and Greg will be doing a livestream episode (most likely via Zoom) at the end of May. To submit your questions for this episode, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
RD kicks off the episode by sharing what evangelism actually is. Greg joins the conversation by talking about what Jesus says about Himself because as Greg and RD affirm, you have to believe in Jesus and who He said He was in order to evangelize to others. The starting place has to be your own faith, both pastors communicate, because the Holy Spirit has to be the one to guide you through evangelism.
RD then moves into a discussion of the different ways and people you will evangelize to, because learning people and being aware of your specific relationship with them, he says, is important to understand before witnessing to them.
Greg brings up how to present a vision of God's law in a time when so many people's ruling ethic is "Well that may be true for you, but it's not true for me." RD adds that we have to find a way to approach people who don't believe in God's laws, because using the argument that you just have to believe just because it's from God won't work for most non-Believers. If someone isn't a Christian, RD says, then they probably won't understand why the Bible is authoritative.
Greg references Mere Christianity as a way to show that every person is born with a moral "ought." He goes on to say that you can start evangelizing to someone based on this "ought." RD then responds by sharing that everyone needs to fill in the gap of their morality somehow, and evangelism is showing that person how to fill in that gap with Christianity. RD also asserts that it's not your job to convert someone, that's the Holy Spirit's job. Your job is to plant that seed and help them down that path with the Holy Spirit. Greg discloses that when we are sharing the Gospel with someone, we have to appeal to their sense of justice and show how God is not a "Santa Claus God" who lets things slide but instead is the epitome of justice, as well as mercy.
Greg and RD then spend some time talking practical things to do before and during evangelism, like studying the Bible and books about the Bible, and praying in the moment.
In closing, Greg brings up a quote by Tim Keller sharing that we are worse than we think we are, but Jesus is better than we could have ever hoped for.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
RD and Greg will be doing a livestream episode (most likely via Zoom) at the end of May. To submit your questions for this episode, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org
RD begins this new Bible series by giving some background on the book of Matthew before he and Greg dive into more detail. Greg then spends time talking about The Five Discourses (which is how the structure of Matthew is built), most notably the Sermon on the Mount. RD responds by stressing that the Sermon on the Mount, all of Matthew, and even all of the Bible shouldn’t be read just through the lens of what we need or should be doing to follow God, but also through the lens of what God has done for us through Jesus.
From there, Greg shares a little about the Olivet Discourse. Because this Discourse can be confusing, RD suggests that people studying it and all of Matthew might benefit from a study Bible.
Greg also brings up that some people get confused by the Gospels because they are all different from each other and feature different stories and timelines. However, Greg compares this to an analogy of four different people writing a book about why Abraham Lincoln was a great president; each of the writers are going to have different reasons or different stories to prove their points, but they all have the same subject and all agree that Lincoln was a great president. Greg brings that up because he says that the author of Matthew was trying to show that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel, but the other authors of the Gospel are not showing that aspect of Jesus, so they are going to tell the story a little differently.
To end, Greg and RD spend some time looking at how the Gospel of Matthew ends and how Matthew talks about the Kingdom of God.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
When we as a society need to be coming together more than ever, we are instead experiencing a culture war. While there has always been a culture divide in our country, it's more difficult to handle right now in the midst of COVID-19, which is why Greg and RD decided to talk about this in this week's episode.
To begin with, Greg gives some of the history of culture wars and discusses how we as Believers need to be thinking and walking through this. RD jumps in by agreeing that the church needs to rise and not pick a side, but define and redefine things, and take the posture of a servant. He also reminds listeners that the ultimate war is not between our culture disagreements, but between Satan and the Kingdom of God; we need to remember who the Enemy actually is.
In thinking about this, Greg expresses that we need to be loving our neighbors as ourselves more than we probably ever will again in our lifetime. RD concurs and says that you don't have to pick a side in the best way to handle COVID-19; you can think it's important to save the economy, and you can think it's important to have everyone stay at home. As long as we are first and foremost loving our neighbors in our actions, RD says, that's what's most important. Greg adds that it's in our nature to say that we have to choose between one thing or another, but that's not always the case.
In closing, Greg and RD emphasize that our actions have to be reflective of the fruit of the Spirit.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD begin this episode by talking about the cross and its centrality of the Gospel, and what actually happens on the cross. RD first begins by discussing how the Gospels slow down during the chapters of Holy Week. Greg jumps in by explaining the Jewish timeline. RD then takes time to describe Jesus' actions during his last days and that Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him, but went through with it anyways.
This leads Greg to expound on the structure of sacrifices in the Jewish lifestyle, and RD points out why Jesus had to die in order to bridge the gap between us and God, and how Jesus declares, "It is finished" when He died. Greg then dives into talking about what actually happened on the cross, referencing James Beilby and Paul Eddy's book "The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views" as a great tool to research more on your own.
From there, Greg and RD spend some time looking at different theories about atonement. The first two theories are penal substitution and the ransom theory of the atonement. Greg lets listeners know that he personally struggles with the ransom theory because it teaches that Christ's death was a ransom paid to Satan. RD agrees and calls the ransom theory problematic, and references the Christus Victor as a better theory. He also references "The Cross of Christ" as a great book on this subject. Another theory that Greg and RD discuss is the moral influence theory.
Greg and RD wrap up this episode by talking more about sin and how Jesus suffered for us on the cross, and how we need to sit in the weight of that on Friday and Saturday.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
We live in a culture where Bibles can be found practically everywhere, but so many Believers don't really know how to study the Bible, or where to start. Greg starts the episode by comparing studying the Bible to being a gold miner; you can pick up your Bible and read here and there and find nuggets, but if you really want to get to the gold, you have to dig. RD joins in by reading from Psalm 1, and talking about how we expect a certain emotional experience when we read the Bible, which may not happen the way we think it will. He encourages people to read the Bible expecting to see God, regardless of the emotional experience you might have. Greg then references the season one Deep Dive that he and RD did about the Bible.
From there, RD starts a conversation about reading the Bible as you would any other book, and how important that is to see how everything connects. Greg agrees, and says that you have to learn how to read the Bible the same way you learn how to study in school; you didn't read PhD-level books when you were in third grade, you had to grow and study and learn how to understand that level. The same is true with the Bible, and Greg encourages newer Bible readers to start in the New Testament. RD also encourages people who don't like to read to still read the Bible; just because you're not a reader isn't a valid excuse to not read the Bible, he says.
Greg and RD then references several great resources to learning how to read the Bible, such as one by Matt Smethurst and one by Jen Wilkin. Along with these resources, RD asserts that while it's important to study the Bible on your own, it's also important to be studying the Bible with other Believers.
In studying the Bible, Greg explains the difference between inductive (starting from a specific thing and working your way up) and deductive (starting from big principles and working your way down or out). He says that it's important to understand the difference to know when you're bringing in your own morality or worldview to the texts of the Bible; you have to let the Bible set your definitions and standards. RD concurs and adds that we also need to be aware of the context in which the passage was written, and remember that the Holy Spirit didn't write the Bible to be confusing.
Greg takes the conversation to discussing all of the different translations of the Bible. RD mentions that he thinks the ESV and NIV are two of the best versions to read, and Greg asserts that a study Bible can be extremely helpful, especially for cross-referencing. Greg also references great commentary books on the Bible by Leon Morris, and RD suggests The Christ Centered Exposition commentaries. Talking about commentaries and translations leads RD to mention why he doesn't think you necessarily need to read the entire Bible in a year.
RD and Greg wrap up the episode by reminding listeners that you have to find what works for you, and what some people do in their times with God and reading the Bible might not work for you. But they also voice that you have to be disciplined in what works for you, and prioritize spending time with God and reading the Bible.
In correlation to the Gospel-centered sermons on Romans, RD and Greg take time to talk about the Gospel and what it really means to live Gospel-formed lives.
Straight away, RD and Greg share that the Gospel is the way we receive the news of what God has done for us through Christ, and the Gospel shows us the fullness of who God is. The Gospel, Greg voices, is the story of how God made us perfect through Jesus.
After asserting what the Gospel is and what it does for us, RD starts the conversation of how we need the Gospel because of our sin. From there, both Greg and RD discuss what sin actually is and why we desperately need Jesus. Greg also discusses propitiation and why it's important to understand the definition of this word.
This leads Greg and RD to talk about how the Gospel is powerful and true, but how we cannot just accept that Jesus died for us and then turn around and sin as much as we want or live however we want. We have to think about how the cross shapes our entire lives, RD asserts. Greg and RD also talk about the difference between "religion" and the Gospel, and how the Gospel is not filled with shame and disgrace, but instead shows us how desperate we are for Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. To this point, RD maintains that at the heart of the Gospel is a relationship.
To wrap up, RD and Greg convey that we will always feel and notice a hole in our lives without Jesus and the Gospel. Greg ends the episode by reading from Ephesians 2 before RD prays.
For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org
As a follow-up to their previous episode about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Greg and RD talk more about how the church as a whole needs to react to the ever-changing situation of COVID-19.
RD starts the conversation by saying that this time in our world is an opportunity for the church to respond well. It's important, he says, to think about how we impact our neighbor and the people around us, and how we as the church offer both ministry and ministry opportunities to our communities. Greg jumps in by mentioning a tweet from Tim Keller that said, “If you & your church were to disappear off the face of the earth tomorrow, would anyone in the community around you notice you were gone?"
With this tweet in mind, both RD and Greg bring up some social media posts and other things they've seen from churches and Christians alike that reference Biblical passages like Joshua and 2 Timothy that talk about not being afraid. Greg warns listeners first that one verse does not make the entire Christian worldview, and second that these passages are specific to those situations, and while we should use them as encouragement, we can't take them as if God is speaking directly to us today about COVID-19; we have to remember the context when we read Biblical passages. RD agrees by explaining that while we have the same God as the God of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, we cannot expect the same results or the same miracles that God performed in the Bible. God might have a completely different plan for what is happening in our world today than the plan He had for the people and situations in the Bible.
In thinking about God's plan, RD and Greg loop back around to how we as the church should be responding. Greg brings up a great point that COVID-19 can and is showing us idols in our hearts. It's easy to cater to what's convenient, Greg says, but this virus and the things we are being asked to do right now is showing him that there are so many things that he and his family can live without. Thinking about this leads Greg to talk more about why we as a society are being asked to do things like social distancing, and he spends some time explaining how serious COVID-19 is.
After spending time talking about our current situation, both RD and Greg share ways they are encouraging and keeping their families and friends calm, and how they are trying to seek the LORD and use this time to grow closer to God and to trust Him completely, and not waste this time by just waiting for the world to go back to "normal." RD ends by sharing a verse telling us to keep our eyes on God, and Greg reminds everyone to seek opportunities to help each other out during these trying times.
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What started with one person getting the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Wuhan province of China has now swept over 100 countries around the world, and completely overtaken the news. With the arrival and growth of COVID-19, fear and anxiety are prevalent among so many people, causing social distancing, events being canceled, people being quarantined, and, tragically, over 4,000 deaths worldwide.
In this season of dread and panic, Greg and RD acknowledge that everyone should be aware of what is going on and not put our heads in the sand or cover our ears, but they also affirm that we should not give into fear as we engage with unfolding events in the world, and in our own lives. Both Greg and RD speak from a Biblical perspective in order to join the conversation about COVID-19, but also dive into how we as Christ-followers should respond to fear and anxiety in general. Both communicate that we must place our trust in Jesus, no matter what the circumstances may be in our lives or in the world at large.
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During a town hall meeting, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was asked, "Is there such a thing as a pro-life Democrat in your vision of the party?" Sanders responded by saying, "I think being pro-choice is an absolutely essential part of being a Democrat." This comment started all kinds of conversations amidst the presidential campaign, and with Christians alike. With that in mind, Greg and RD jump into the conversation of abortion in order to help Christians walk through what RD calls the most divisive topic in politics right now.
To start, RD shares that his wife Emily used to work at a crisis pregnancy center in Wisconsin, so he lets the listener know that this topic is very close to his heart. After sharing that, RD goes on to assert that God is the author of life, so God and God alone gets to decide when a life ends or begins. He also conveys that he's passionate about this because he sees the world viewing Christians as only caring about abortion and homosexuality on the most basic of levels instead of engaging in a conversation about a bigger vision.
Greg chimes in by saying that while the church is heavily involved in birth-to-death ministries, individual Christians can get sucked into conversations about abortion only, and don't consider being pro-life for the entirety of that life. Greg implores the listener to find places and conversations in the world where they can be engaged and provide a bigger vision; that is what will bring about true social justices, he says. Both Greg and RD agree that we as Christians have to be bigger than a political party.
RD references how the early church didn't give in to the political pressures of the day. Instead, the early church was known for their care of the poor and infants. And more than just dispute abortion, the church would take in unwanted infants, as the practice of the day was to literally throw away unwanted babies.
In conclusion, RD stresses that if you've had an abortion, there is room in God's Kingdom for you still, because God is a God of forgiveness, grace, and healing. Greg agrees with this and adds that our vision for why people are important shouldn't come from their status or utility; it's instead their created nature in the image of God that matters.
What exactly does God control in our lives? How much does God know about the future and my choices? If God does know the future, has He always known it, or was there a point when He learned it?
These are the questions that Greg and RD dive into during their discussion of Open Theism.
Right at the start of the conversation, Greg tells listeners that it's important to know that one big reason Open Theism came to be was because people wanted to be able to say that God didn't know that Adam and Eve were going to sin, and that the Fall and sin were a surprise to Him. By saying this about God, Greg explains that it gives people a way to cope with God being a good God yet allowing things like suffering without having to trust in God's sovereignty. However, Greg goes on to explain that this way of thinking completely contradicts Biblical passages like Ephesians 1 and Romans 9.
So what do we do with these questions? Where do we take them? RD and Greg both implore listeners to take them to God; He can handle it. We are never going to understand why God does some of the things He does or allows certain things to happen, Greg admits, because of our finiteness and the way our brains work compared to God. But that doesn't mean that God is not sovereign and good, it just means that God is asking us to trust Him. RD adds to this by telling listeners to submit all thoughts and emotions to God; we have to trust God even when things don't make sense to us, but that doesn't mean that we can't tell God how we feel or bring our questions to lay down at His feet.
In this vein, RD and Greg also consider why we are told in the Bible to pray for people, if God already knows what will happen to them. Ultimately, Greg says that we have to pray for each other because God has told us to, period. We have to trust that God is telling us to for a reason, and just be obedient and trust him, just like with everything in our lives.
This leads RD to examine how we should trust and love God despite not being given the answers to every question we have. Just because we don't understand every facet of God doesn't mean we can't love him, RD says. Greg affirms this by sharing his belief that we will never completely understand or know God. Instead, we will spend all of eternity in Heaven with Him, learning about Him and being in His presence.
Greg and RD wrap up this episode by clarifying that while God is and always will be mysterious to us, that it not something we should be afraid of or cause us to run from Him. Don't despise the mystery, Greg implores, instead embrace it because it's who God is. RD concludes the podcast by referencing the book Hope Heals by Katherine and Jay Wolf, and how the Wolfs had to come to the conclusion themselves that while they may never understand why things happened to Katherine, they can still say God is good.
Division in politics isn't a new phenomenon; it's been around since the beginning of politics. However, with the rise of social media affecting politics, the division has been ramped up immensely. One reason we have so much division, Greg thinks, is because so much of the way we vote as a country is fueled on fear and cynicism, instead of forming an opinion based on Scripture and listening to the Holy Spirit.
With that in mind, Greg and RD spend this podcast discussing how we as Christians have to find ways to be engaged in politics without forgetting that we are not created to serve the president, we are created to serve God and His ways.
Early on, RD and Greg show how many people in the Bible either had positions of political power (like Joseph and Daniel) or wrote about politics (like Paul and Peter). It's important to note this, Greg reminds listeners, because the Bible shows us that God has given us a government, and we should be praying, caring, and engaging in it.
As Believers, we have to engage in politics in a way that is Gospel formed, Greg asserts; it's important to be informed and know your opinion on things. Greg goes on to disclose that you have to be able to talk about hot-topic things in love and with respect, with Scripture in the forefront of your mind, because we will only evoke change when we can actually talk about things with each other and share our opinions. RD jumps in to share that we can disagree with each other, but we have to love each other first and foremost.
In talking about sharing your political views and voting based on your beliefs, both RD and Greg are quick to convey that there's a difference between thoughtfully disengaging and abstaining from voting because you're can't, in good conscience, vote for any candidate, and not engaging because you're apathetic or lazy. Jesus calls us to love and serve everyone, RD repeats, including widows, orphans, and the poor, and you have to engage in politics in order to help these people. If you're apathetic, you can't bring about change for anyone.
RD goes on to share that he doesn't think a Christian should fit neatly into any political category. It's not good to pick a side just to pick a side, RD expresses, it's better to think through all topics with Scripture in mind and come to an informed, Biblical decision, even if that means you're split between parties.
Greg and RD close their discussion by affirming that at the foot of the cross, we are all the same.
In his book 'Love Wins,' Rob Bell writes about how hell cannot be a place where God allows people to go to for forever, because how could a loving and good God ever do that? But to reduce hell to that notion shows that there is much missing in your belief of God. God cannot just snap His fingers and say that sin is fine; His holiness will not allow that.
In sharp contrast to the ideas that Bell presents, the New Testament has passages like Luke 13 where the author writes that Jesus commands for people to depart from Him and go to a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. There are other passages where Jesus also talks about hell, such as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, and Matthew's passage on the final judgment. So while some people say that the God of the Old Testament is harsh and unloving but the God (meaning Jesus) of the New Testament is only full of love and compassion, this is simply not true; Jesus talks about hell more than anyone else in the entire Bible.
While some people subscribe to Annihilationism, or the idea that the souls of the damned cease to exist, Jesus also shows in the Bible that because eternal life with Him exists, so must eternal punishment. Greg affirms this by discussing how the Holy Spirit is in us and is restraining us while we are on earth, but in hell, sin will become rampant because the presence of the Holy Spirit will be missing.
After examining texts that show that hell is real, Greg and RD move onto who is going to be in hell and why. They are both quick to mention that the defining thing that sends people to hell is not the idea of who is better than who, or if you committed more sins than others; the defining thing is God's holiness, and if you repent and rely on His salvation or not. With this in mind, it's important to remember that unlike John Milton's view of hell in 'Paradise Lost', hell does not belong to Satan. This idea of hell being Satan's might be an easier notion to swallow, but the truth is that the purpose of hell is to show God's holiness and righteousness. Both RD and Greg point to Dr. R. C. Sproul's book 'The Holiness of God' for a more in-depth look into this concept.
If we think that God will only send to hell those who commit repulsive sins, or someone who commits thousands and thousands of sins, then we are cheapening the love of God, because God is holy and His righteousness cannot tolerate even one "small" sin. The question really shouldn't be how can a loving God send people to hell, it should be how can a holy and righteous God send people to heaven. But as we read in 1 John, those of us who have put our faith in Jesus can be confident in the knowledge that we will be with Him in heaven.
On December 14, 2019, Olive Heiligenthal, the two-year-old daughter of Andrew and Kally Heiligenthal, tragically passed away. Instead of going into mourning, Andrew and Kally reached out to their community at Bethel Church and began praying that God would raise Olive from the dead. According to Bethel's Facebook page, they stated that they were seeking "… a miracle from God to raise [Olive] from the dead. We realize this is out of the norm, but that’s what a miracle is – it’s outside the box of nature and our power." However, after several days of prayer, the Heiligenthals finally ended the call for resurrection.
So what now? Should the congregation at Bethel carry around incredible guilt because they weren't able to raise Olive from the dead? Do we start to believe that God is not as good as He says He is?
On the contrary, Greg and RD firmly share that you have to believe that everything God does is for the sake of His glory, and just like Jesus, you have to say, "Your will be done," believing that God is a merciful and loving God with ways you may never understand because you are not God. Greg and RD also affirm that you have to ask God to refine you through every circumstance you experience, no matter the outcome, and not blame yourself when the outcome is not what you wanted or expected.
The problem comes, Greg and RD assert, when you believe that heaven will come to earth if you pray and believe hard enough, as they did at Bethel with Olive; you are taking God and His will out of the equation. Greg and RD implore the listener to steer clear from the thinking of, "I might have been saved by faith, but it's me who perform my spiritual gifts," as they agree that this way of thinking can lead to over-realized eschatology, or the notion that some of the things that God says specifically about heaven and the future are happening right now on earth.
It's easy to take passages of Scripture such as Jesus telling His disciples that they can move literal mountains with their faith and think that these Scriptures mean that we must do the same today. However, Greg and RD are quick to point out that there is a difference between texts of apostles such as Paul saying, "This is how you need to live to follow Jesus," and stories told in the Gospels showing how Jesus is Lord in every circumstance. A great example of this is the Sermon on the Mount, which should not be taken as prescriptive, Greg confirms, because Matthew put it in his Gospel for the Jews to show that we cannot be righteous before God by our own actions.
So whether you're a Cessationist or a Continuationist, Greg and RD agree that the point is that every single miracle that has ever been done or ever will be done points back to the cross and the mission of Jesus.
To end the episode, RD and Greg point to an article by K. J. Ramsey about Olive and how, in every circumstance, we must trust God and hold fast to the belief that He is good.
On January 26, Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, along with seven other people, were killed in a tragic helicopter crash after making the decision to fly in foggy conditions. Stunned at the sudden death, fans, friends, and celebrities alike mourned the loss of everyone on board. Bryant had a career in the NBA for 20 years and was considered an NBA superstar, but he was also a family man, having been married to his wife Vanessa Laine for 19 years and having four children together.
In this episode, Greg and RD take time to break down the response to Kobe's death; when a celebrity who seemed to have the world at his fingertips and so much life left to live dies, it reminds the world of how little control we have over our own lives.
From there, RD and Greg pivot from Bryant to talk more broadly about how our current culture approaches death and grief, and how the Bible shows us a deeper and more profound way to approach them. The best example of this is Jesus Himself; throughout His ministry, we see a man who was acquainted with grief and sorrow, who wept, and whose life ended when He was only in His 30s. In all of these things, Jesus models a way for us to confront death, embrace grief as part of our healing process, and hold onto a hope in Jesus that is stronger than death itself.
When John MacArthur responded to a question about his feelings towards Beth Moore by telling Moore to "go home," Christians responded in a number of different ways. Some people took a hard stance on women not being allowed to preach in churches, while others took to Twitter to affirm Moore and her ministry. Moore herself responded via Twitter and said, "I did not surrender to a calling of man… I surrendered to a calling of God… You don't have to let me serve you. That gets to be your choice. Whether or not I serve Jesus is not up to you… One way or the other, I esteem you [MacArthur] as my sibling in Christ."
The controversy of MacArthur's remarks began a conversation among many Christians not only about the place of women in ministry, but how men and women, and husbands and wives, should treat each other in general.
Some Believers have pointed to Titus' words in the Bible, saying that the woman or wife's place is at home, as MacArthur said. Others have looked to Paul's texts and feel that women should stay silent in churches. To these passages, Greg affirms in this episode that we have to take the texts of the New Testament in social context; the early Christians were trying to not stick out or bring about massive social revolutions. Instead, they wanted to be known for how and Who they loved.
With this knowledge, we need to remember to work together as Christians for the sake of the Gospel instead of tear each other apart, or harshly say what some can do and some can't do. From the beginning, God created Man and Woman, Adam and Eve, to work together and be a partnership. We need to remember that it is not an "either or" when it comes to men and women working together in ministry, it's a "both and." It's also not about what we think are our rights or what we think we deserve from God vocationally, it's about what God has called us to individually, for His glory and wisdom. With this in mind, RD confirms that a church has to have ways to grow men and women equally, since they are both made in God's image and thus equally important to bringing the Gospel to the world.
To help having a well-rounded conversation around these topics, Greg and RD bring in their wives, Jen and Emily, to the episode.
Jen, Greg's wife, shares that she grew up in a ministry family, and felt the call to ministry when she was in her 20's. When she started studying the Bible for herself, she tells listeners that she found freedom as a woman in ministry, and has had lots of encouragement from men in the church to think outside the box in ministry and lead in lots of different ways. Jen explains that it's not about "the cause," it's about serving Jesus.
Emily, RD's wife, shares that she is passionate about keeping the "main thing" the main thing, and doesn't want to focus on women's ministries, but instead she wants to focus on Jesus and His ministry. She explains that she has had people in her life who have fostered and encouraged her to be a leader in her own individual way.
Throughout their conversation, RD, Greg, Emily, and Jen keep coming back to the idea that society has formed a lot of what Christianity has taken on as gender roles. For example, there is nothing Biblical about who has to do what in the home and in a marriage; society has put ideas in our heads like the wife has to stay home and cook dinner, and the husband handles the money. In our culture, this is what submission in a marriage looks like, but this is not what Biblical submission looks like.
Do we go straight to heaven when we die? Will everyone we love be there? What does heaven look like? What will I look like in heaven? RD and Greg tackle all these questions and more in this episode.
In the early days of Christianity, many people picked up ideas and ideologies from things like Greek mythology and popular opinions of the day. For example, the idea of Gnosticism entered the Roman world and tried to twist our understanding of who Christ was. So a lot of our societal understanding or way of thinking about heaven is actually incorrect. Heaven is not a place of clouds and harps and angels with wings flying around like it's depicted in movies. In fact, the phrase "go to heaven when you die" is not even in the Bible. While we don't know everything or even a lot about what heaven looks like from the Bible, we do know that heaven is a place where we will be with God; Jesus told His disciples that He was preparing a place for them there. We also know that this place is where we will go (at least for a time before the New Heavens and New Earth) when we die, as Jesus tells the man on the cross next to Him.
While we know these things about heaven, the Bible doesn't seem concerned with what heaven looks like or how it functions; the Bible is much more concerned about us being aware of our eternal reality and putting our trust in Jesus no matter what. Throughout the Bible, we are told that we should be living for the Kingdom now, because the Kingdom is where God rules and reigns forever. Our life with God now is preparing us for our life with Him later in the Kingdom.
Once Greg and RD set these thoughts and facts about heaven straight, they take the time to answer some common questions they receive about heaven.
34:52 - Will I get an answer or know why this particular thing happened to me?
Paul says that in heaven, we will know as we are known. While there is nowhere in the Bible that explicitly states that God will answer all of our questions in heaven, this passage from Paul does lead us to believe that we will understand why things happen to us because God will explain it to us.
40:02 - Will this particular person be in Heaven?
We know that all those in Christ will be with Him in heaven. Through stories in the Bible like that of Abraham, we can see that it is more about believing God's promise and about believing God saves you than about if someone lived before or after Jesus was alive. So if someone believes that it is God alone who saves them and puts their trust in Him, then they will be in heaven.
42:10 - What's going to happen with the New Earth? What will heaven be like?
All we really know is that the New Earth will be God setting things right. However, we can read books by authors like Randy Alcorn to get an idea of what the New Earth could be.
43:58 - Will we know each other in heaven? And what will we look like? Will we have jobs in Heaven?
We know that the disciples knew who Jesus was in His resurrected body but besides that, we don't know exactly what we will look like. We can guess that the New Earth will look something like what we have now, except perfect.
- Creationism: What are the differences of opinions, how do we handle them, and what are the things we must believe (1:45)
- What do we mean when we say “God’s glory" (14:49)
- What are our favorite book of the Bible and why (21:34)
- Suicide (25:33)
- What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus (34:34)
- The differences in Bible translations (38:52)
- Enneagram (42:28)
- God as “she” (47:05)
- Can someone be Christians and hold non-Christian positions (49:55)
- Do babies go to heaven (54:27)
- How do you deal with feeling overwhelmed by culture, and when it seems like justice is absent (situation in Syria, sex trafficking etc) (57:29)
- Universalism, Narnia, and Tash (1:05:13)
- Podcasts RD and Greg are listening to / Christmas movies to watch (1:12:17)
When Kanye West released his recent album Jesus Is King, Christian reactions were across the board; from complete acceptance to confusion to total distrust, despite many of the lyrics being very Biblically based. In lieu of this hot topic, Greg and RD jump into conversations about conversion, centered around Kanye's spiritual journey.
Because we live in a time of emotionally-charged ministries, some people respond to services or Christian events out of emotion only. RD calls these false conversions, in that the conversion was just for a moment, not a life change. There are some who claim that Kanye's conversion is exactly this, but before we as Christians jump to this conclusion without knowing Kanye's heart , we need to remember Paul's letter to the church in Corinth where he tells them that love "believes all things." While we are called to press into other Christians' spiritual lives, we have to do so in love and with grace.
With this in mind, we do need to be careful of who we are allowing to be spiritual leaders. It's irresponsible to take a brand-new Believer and tell them to go be a small group leader or pastor; brand new Believers need time to grow and cultivate their faith, and learn from people who have been in the faith a long time. When you become a Christian, you do not immediately stop sinning overnight, nor should you be held to that kind of standard. So it's not fair to expect someone like Kanye to know everything about Christianity, or just immediately drop all of his sins. We also need to remember that Kanye is having to live out his spiritual life in front of the whole world, so anytime he falls or sins, it's going to be incredibly public, and he's going to need grace.
Throughout their conversation, RD and Greg remind listeners that you cannot compare your spiritual walk to anyone else's journey. No matter what your story is, God can redeem you and bring you to Him, and even the most unlikely person can become a Christian. In fact, it's an absolute miracle that God brings anyone to Himself. The notion of "it was easier for God to forgive me than you because I sinned less" is ridiculous; God has to give us all enormous amounts of grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
When Joker was released, it was met with both praise and dislike. But there were some who fell in between and saw it as a tale of what society and the individual can become.
Greg and RD take this approach with the film, and try to answer, or at least discuss, the question of which came first, society creating individuals or individuals' actions creating a society?
Through two characters in Joker - Arthur Fleck and his coworker Gary - the filmmakers show that despite society's treatment of us, we are still responsible for our actions. In Joker, Arthur reacts in an exceptionally negative way towards society and allows his actions to grow increasingly worse and worse, feeling his actions justified because of his treatment by society. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Gary is pushed down and made fun of constantly by society, and yet he is the only moral and good character in the entire film. So one deeper message to pull out of Joker is that while society holds a responsibility to the individual, the individual also holds a responsibility to society.
This idea of responsibility being on both society and the individual is absolutely Biblical. While the Bible clearly states that we are responsible for our own actions, God also tells His people to pray for the cities in which they are residing because they have a religious obligation to make society better. If Christians are not trying to make society better, if we are not showing God to society, then society will make their own gods, as Gotham does for the Joker. But just as Gotham needed a savior in Batman, our society needs a savior, Jesus Christ.
In thinking about an individual's responsibility to society, Greg and RD bring up that loving our neighbors, as Jesus commanded, is thinking through how we engage everyone in our society. We as Christians have a personal and moral obligation to love everyone, including the outcasts or those who might be hard to love (someone like the Joker). While God made a good world, sin has fractured the good world He made, and even though it's only Jesus who can put the world back into place, we as Christians are commanded to try and mend the world, little by little.
With this in mind, Greg is quick to mention that there is more than one way to help mend the world, so we need to be open to ways that we might not have thought of and work together. He references the age of prohibition and how the religious conservatives and the social progressives of the day had to work together in order to amend the constitution.
In closing, RD quotes some of Acts 16, where Paul heals a slave girl of a demon in her, which lead to her masters becoming angry at Paul, as her demon was making them a profit. RD uses this as an example of how the girl was responsible for her actions, yes, but she needed Paul and the Gospel to free her from society's chains in order to turn her life around.
On September 17, Union Seminary tweeted a picture of them confessing sins to plants during their chapel. Despite criticism across the board, Union Seminary defended their actions, saying that this was "a beautiful ritual."
RD and Greg start this episode by explaining that Union Seminary got one thing right: God has entrusted the planet to humans, and we have not done a good job of honoring and respecting that. But this idea, this sliver of truth, has been taken to an extreme. Union Seminary also said that they were confessing "to the beings who sustain us," but there is only one Being Who sustains us, and that is God. Greg is quick to point out Romans 1, which talks about a people exchanging the glory of God for other things.
Fundamentally, Union Seminary is calling into question the Imago Dei theology by thinking that we can confess to plants instead of God or each other. Plants (and animals, for that matter) can't be sinned against because they are not created in the image of God. However, people can be sinned against, because they are created in God's image.
Greg breaks down this idea further by discussing four different aspects of Imago Dei:
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Being self aware of our existence
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Having a higher thinking
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Having the ability to know what truth and beauty and goodness are
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Knowing a moral order
Even with this knowledge that people can be sinned against, it's important to see that ultimately, all sin is against God. When we don't acknowledge God as creator and to whom we sin against, we can fall prey to thinking that humans are wise enough to become our own God, and we can assign value to each other and follow that as our moral code instead of what God has set into place.
Should I go to my gay friend's wedding? How does Fellowship handle same-sex attraction within their body? Can I ever get married if I'm same-sex attracted? What do I say when my child comes out to me? Why do we have to talk about sexuality so much? These are the questions that Greg and RD tackle in this episode, in rapid fire question-and-answer style.
Q. Why are we constantly talking about homosexuality, and sexuality in general?
A. Because right now, our culture is trying to tell us that you are not whole unless you are sexually fulfilled, which is not Biblical. Yes, God made sex and He made it good, but we have to follow His guidelines for it. We talk about it so we can combat what society and our culture tries to make us believe.
Q. Should I attend my gay friend's wedding?
A. The first thing you have to ask when you are deciding whether or not to attend the wedding is are my friends Believers or Unbelievers? Greg stresses that if "In Jesus' name" is going to be uttered at the wedding, then you cannot attend because by that phrase, they are saying that God is in agreement with the wedding, which is not true. While Jesus eats with sinners, He does not condone their behavior, and He does not eat with Pharisees who claim to be Believers but are living in sin. RD chimes in and reminds us that while the church is a safe place for sinners, it is not a safe place for sin. On the opposite side, if it's a wedding that has nothing to do with God and is a marriage between two Unbelievers, then attending or not is up to your personal convictions, but be careful that you are not supporting the marriage by attending.
Q. How does Fellowship respond when they have same-sex couples attend?
A. RD begins this answer by expressing that Fellowship doesn't check anyone's sexuality at the door. Fellowship welcomes people who have same-sex attractions, or are living a homosexual lifestyle, just as Jesus welcomed sinners. But RD does warn that Fellowship won't shy away from being vocal about our stance on homosexuality just because there could be same-sex couples in the congregation. Both Greg and RD also discuss how Fellowship would maintain that a person lay down their same-sex lifestyle in order to become members or elders, just like any other sin.
Q. How do I handle never getting married because I'm same-sex attracted?
A. Fellowship teaches that just because you are not married or never will get married doesn't mean you are a lesser Christian. You deserve just as much teaching, knowledge, and guidance as anyone else.
Q. How do I have a conversation with someone about sexuality and gender?
A. We have to talk about those things in a way that honors the Creator for His way of making creation. You have to be willing to have a long conversation with someone about this, and listen more than talk. Then, you can show them from Genesis to Romans about how God created us in a specific way, and that God knows what is best for His people and His creation, no matter how hard that is for us to grasp.
Q. How do I respond when my child/family member comes out to me and says they are embracing the lifestyle?
A. RD implores you to not kick them out or abandon them. Instead, acknowledge that you're thankful they shared it with you and begin the conversation there. Don't sacrifice your conviction, but think about your relationship with that person, and think about how to walk alongside of them in love even though you are making it clear that you disagree with them.
Around 50 years ago, when the topic of homosexuality became something the church could no longer ignore, it split into two ways of thinking:
- The Progressive Camp. This group feels like the Bible is not as harsh towards homosexuality as we have thought or said in the past, and we need to instead focus on God's love and inclusivity.
- Historic/Traditional Camp. This group, which Fellowship subscribes to, believes that all sexual activity is reserved for a man and a woman only, in the context of marriage.
With these two camps in mind, RD and Greg dig into what exactly the Bible teaches about homosexuality, and why it teaches what it does. RD and Greg focus mostly on Romans 1 for this episode, but Greg does reference Romans 1-3, as these are the chapters where Paul builds a case against humanity so that he can then say that no one is righteous and we have all sinned. Through these chapters, Paul shows that all sin flows from rejecting God as Creator.
Thinking of how we've rejected God as Creator brings up the idea that the gender differences between Adam and Eve are fundamentally important. God created Adam and Eve to form a marriage by giving them a complimentary nature that forms a unified whole. Paul's argument is about Natural Relations, meaning he's not arguing about desires, he's saying that the male and female sexual organs are designed for one another by our Creator, and by acting in homosexual ways, we are denying the way the Creator made us.
Paul makes a point to bring all of this up in Romans because homosexuality was rampant in first century Rome; Roman culture in Paul's time had both homosexuality relationships and marriages. So the argument of, "The Bible is referring to homosexuality in prostitution or unhealthy interactions, not committed, loving relationships," is not a valid argument based on historical facts of the Roman culture in that time period.
A second argument that Greg and RD have heard against the Historic/Traditional Camp way of thinking is that the Bible isn't reliable, or we shouldn't base someone's lifestyle on a few verses in an old book. To this, Greg counter-argues that if you say this, then you must also say that everything in the Bible isn't reliable; you can't pick and choose what you think is right or wrong in the Bible. RD cautions getting into arguments about homosexuality with people who think about the Bible or homosexuality in this way because the underlying problem is that their center of authority is not God, and that problem would have to be addressed before you could ever show them the truth about the Bible's teachings on homosexuality.
A third argument Greg and RD consider is when people say that if God truly was against homosexuality, He wouldn't allow that desire to be in Christians, or anyone for that matter. To this, Greg stresses that God never promised or promises He will take away your fleshly desires for sin when you become a Christian. Even Paul says that he has a thorn in his flesh. If God's grace shines greater because of our struggle with a sin, then we have to be willing to say, "Your will be done." In reference to this, RD quotes Wesley Hills' book, which breaks this argument down and shows how he as a celibate gay Christian walks in faith, even with his desires.
Finally, RD and Greg address probably the two most common arguments for accepting homosexuality that go hand in hand:
- Jesus never talked about homosexuality. If you read Mark 7, Jesus uses the Greek word "porneia," which means anything that goes against the prevailing sexual code. By this, Jesus is affirming all the Old Testament passages about homosexuality.
- If you're against homosexuality, then you have to be against shellfish and bacon. First, in the book of Acts, God gives Peter a vision telling him to not reject the use of certain animals for food on a religious basis (meaning eat what you want because that does not affect your salvation). Second, the New Testament is extremely clear that the only part of the Old Testament that goes into Christianity are the moral commandments, not civil and ceremonial laws.
In speaking about Believers who struggle with homosexual desires, Greg clarifies that there is a distinction between how men and women were created, and how they were born. He makes this distinction because it's important to remember that we are born into sin and born with sin; we are not created for sin. There are some Believers who will struggle with same-sex attraction their whole life because it is a sinful desire they were born with, because we are born into sin. This is such a crucial point to make because the church has done damage by not always believing this, but Greg is quick to point out that homosexuality is a sin nature, just like anger, pride, or any other sin.
To avoid hurting Believers who struggle with same-sex attractions but to still show them that acting on these attractions are wrong, RD affirms that how you say homosexuality is a sin is imperative. He mentions Sam Albery's book as a reference for how to do this. RD also asserts that it's not someone's faithfulness to their partner that matters or indicates their salvation, it's their faithfulness to God and Scripture.
RD and Greg end the episode by acknowledging that if you're same-sex attracted, that does not condemn you. And if you're heterosexual, that doesn't save you. Only Jesus and His gracious salvation can save you.
For more resources on same-sex attraction and how to talk about it and walk through it as a Believer, RD recommends People To Be Loved, Out Of A Far Country, A War Of Loves, and What Does The Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality.
How do we know that Christianity is the only true religion? This question is at the heart of Greg and RD's podcast this week.
Christianity is the only true religion, Greg explains, because it's the only religion where God has instituted a code of rules (the law) which God Himself has lived out perfectly, and then He suffered the punishment for everyone who hasn't lived them out perfectly. Throughout the whole Bible, God is showing us the magnitude of His perfection, but also the magnitude of His mercy and grace. But, He cannot do this without being exclusive. Exclusive in the context of the Gospel is not a negative thing; it is God being a just and righteous God and demanding a sacrifice for our sins, but also showing tremendous mercy by allowing us to come to Him through Jesus.
Exclusivity in the Bible is not something that starts in the New Testament with the passage in John where Jesus says He is the only way to God; it actually starts in Genesis 3 when God tells Adam and Eve that they must leave the Garden. Throughout these passages, and really all of Scripture, our tendency can be to think that God should be striving to make everyone happy, but in reality, it's not about our happiness, it's about God putting His glory on display. As RD discusses, we can't put people first before God because the most important part of Christianity is God, not people.
Both RD and Greg bring up that one of the biggest questions they get about exclusivity is how is it fair when someone who's never heard the Gospel dies and goes to hell? Greg tackles this question by explaining that when we say fair, we mean just. Salvation is never about justice, it's about grace and mercy. If God was fair then everyone would be going to hell because of their sin. Paul talks about this in Romans 2, and RD references Tim Keller's comments on it, as well.
RD shares that even if this is a hard subject for us to grasp or come to terms with, that is okay because there need to be some things about God that we don't understand - that shows how He is an all-knowing God and we are not.
As a final way to show how Christianity is the only true religion, RD explains how most religions say "Here's how to find God," but Christianity says "here's how God finds us."
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." This verse from Jeremiah is maybe the most quoted verse by those who believe in and follow the Prosperity Gospel. But if you read the rest of the chapter, you'll see that there is so much more to this passage; God is not promising us today that He will bless us with good things, He is talking to the Israelites who are in captivity.
This is often the case with texts used to support the Prosperity Gospel - they find their roots in Old Testament promises to the Israelites and try to put them in modern-day Christianity and claim them as promises to us today, taking the actual promises out of context. At its core, the Prosperity Gospel takes the perspective of a loving God and only focuses on that personality of God, while also preying on our desires for comfort and ease. It works almost like a contract: You do x, y, and z for God, so He owes you blessings.
In thinking about the Prosperity Gospel, RD and Greg are quick to point out that the whole concept of the Prosperity Gospel is based on the individual, not God. The emphasis is on the individual getting glory through their self-righteous belief, not God showing His glory through His blessings to us. By doing this, we are setting ourselves up for failure when we don't get the blessings. Greg discloses that he often talks to believers who feel they have failed in their faith when they pray for a blessing and God doesn't give it to them.
RD brings up Tim Keller's take on the Prosperity Gospel when Keller talks about the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Keller explains that you're not saved from the strain of your faith, but the object of your faith, Jesus. RD also warns to not mistake the provisions of God (like His blessings to us) for the presence of God. We can pray for blessings and gifts, but we can't say we are owed anything, or have God in our debt because of our faith or how hard we prayed. That, Greg points out, is Debtor's Ethic.
RD also examines how the Prosperity Gospel started in the Garden, when God had given Adam and Eve everything, but they still wanted more. God gave them gifts, but they looked at the tree and saw it as something else they could get; they elevated the gift above the Giver.
So what does prosperity look like for a believer? Greg responds to this question with another question: What is God's purpose for your life? From that question, both Greg and RD reference Paul when he says "I have learned the secret of being content." That is the place where we all need to get in our relationship with God; no matter where He takes us, we will face it with joy with Him.
Do faith and work really go hand in hand? Does God really care about what you vocationally do from 9 to 5? Or is the Secular Sacred Divide a Biblical thing that affects what we do vocationally?
Greg and RD set out to prove that while God does care about your volunteer work, how you help the church on Sundays or Wednesdays, and how you tithe your time to ministry work, He also equally cares about your vocation, and all types of work you do, because all types of work bring glory to God.
The idea of work is not something that man invented that God just goes along with; God Himself invented work pre-Fall, by giving Adam and Eve work in the Garden. RD reminds listeners that even in Heaven, we will have some kind of work, even if it's not what we think of work here on earth. One reason for this is because our work - vocational, relational, all of it - directly affects our relationship with God, since everything we do should be giving God glory.
It doesn't matter what type of work we do, it all will give glory to God, just as John Coltrane found out in 1957, RD explains. Before he released his album that year, Coltrane had what he called a "spiritual awakening," where he asked God for the "means and privilege to make others happy through music." Coltrane realized that he didn't have to become a monk or minister to give God glory through his work, he could use the talents God had already given him to lead people to God.
In a similar story of using your vocation, or whatever is happening around you, for God's glory, Greg shares how Louie Giglio once came to a Fellowship Crossroads events and spoke about Heather Mercer, who was held captive by the Taliban when she was a missionary to Afghanistan. Giglio ended the talk by saying, "How does a Taliban prison guard hear the Gospel unless someone goes there?" Just as Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon, Mercer was able to use her circumstances for the glory of God.
RD warns that no job is perfect, no matter what vocation you are in. Frustrations or annoyances in a job is completely normal. There is no such thing as a "perfect job" and that is not the point of work, anyways. The point of work, as Greg and RD state throughout the episode, is to bring glory to God.
RD ends the episode by sharing the plot of Leaf By Niggle, a short story by J. R. R. Tolkien. The story symbolizes how we may be frustrated by our work here on earth, or think that it doesn't matter or doesn't contribute to any bigger picture, but God sees our work and it matters to Him, no matter what it is.
God has no limits. This central idea is what Greg and RD repeatedly come back to in this week's episode. If you say that God has more important things to think or care about than sports, hobbies, or how you feel today, then you are putting limitations on God. God cares about every single part of every single person's life.
Not only does God care about these things but He wants us to care about them, as well. Both Greg and RD assure listeners that God has given each of us passions in our lives for different hobbies, and God cares about our passions.
With this in mind, Greg and RD do caution that if the success of a sports team is more important to you than the players' salvation, or if you pray more during a football game than you ever do for your neighbors or friends, that is where the passion has crossed into unhealthy. Likewise, if we pursue our passions and hobbies without God in mind or allowing Him to be a part of it with us, we have made our passion a sinful thing. Like Greg discusses in this episode, we cannot pursue our passions to the point of sin.
In going back to the idea that we cannot put limitations on God, Greg and RD consider the question of "Does God care more about relationships than football?" Greg strongly disagrees with this question as a whole because he asserts that even asking the question is limiting God. God infinitely cares about relationships, but He also infinitely cares about football. It's not about what God cares about more, it's about God caring about every single aspect of our lives.
As an example of this, Greg brings up the film Chariots Of Fire, based on Eric Liddell's time as an Olympic runner. In the movie, Eric tells his sister that while God made him to be a missionary to China, God also made him fast, so he knows that pursuing the Olympics is not a bad thing but pleasing to God.
A quick internet search on deconversion will show you how prevalent an issue it is in our society today; from popular Christian authors like Joshua Harris and Hillsong worship leader Marty Sampson announcing their departure from faith to John Piper saying goodbye to author Rob Bell due to Bell's current theology.
sharing their deconversion stories. With its growth in popularity, questions are more and more being asked: "Is once saved always saved a true statement?" "Can you truly lose your salvation, or did you just not have real salvation in the first place?" "Is deconversion or apostasy the unpardonable sin?"
Right off the bat, RD and Greg affirm John MacArthur's comment "If I could lose my salvation, I would. I can't keep my salvation, and neither can you. God must hold onto it for us." Greg follows this comment by MacArthur by stating that there is a difference between deconversion and having questions about your faith - deconversion is the willful decision to walk away from Christianity, whereas wrestling with questions about the Bible and your faith is normal and healthy in the context of a personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus is not threatened by your questions, He is bigger than any question you could have. However, if you are asking questions, you have to remember that you can't reject the goodness of the Bible, and you have to trust in the Bible even through your questions.
On the subject of losing your salvation, RD quotes Hebrews 6, to which Greg clarifies that we should still be praying for our lost friends and family because only God knows their hearts and where they are spiritually. Just as it says in Jude, we have to be merciful to those who doubt.
This leads RD and Greg to discuss why, in their own experiences, they have seen people walk away from God. Greg describes how the main reasons he has witnessed people leave Christianity are either because that person was asking questions without God as their theological center, or because there is a sin in that person's life that they wanted to justify but they couldn't. These two reasons are vastly different than someone simply asking questions while still trusting in God's sovereignty. RD chimes in that the church should be a safe place where people can wrestle with questions and grow in wisdom in Christ through their questions. Two of these questions that are prevalent right now in the Christian community are:
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How do you follow a God who allows so much suffering?
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How can we love the LGBTQ community if we think that the lifestyle is sinful? Aren't we creating an exclusive community by doing that?
With both of these questions, Greg is quick to mention that most people follow these up with, "How can a good and loving God send people to hell?" but no one ever asks, "How can a just and righteous God allow people into heaven?" Greg also voices that God Himself rejects and excludes people in the Bible. We cannot put inclusivity as the highest feature of God, or give God boundaries by saying things like, "I can't believe in a God who would do x, y or z." When God says in the Bible that something is wrong or sinful, we cannot pretend we are wiser and know more than God and say that thing is right. That leads to a postmodernism way of thinking ("This is my truth and that is yours") and a Dunning-Krueger Effect way of thinking, and makes you lose your anchor. It also can lead to wanting the Kingdom of God (meaning the peace, love, kindness, etc. that Christianity offers) without the King (meaning you forget about the God who is just, righteous, and jealous for His people).
In this same vein, RD and Greg expound on the discussion and talk about how we as Christians have to learn to not be afraid of the outside world. Obviously we need to learn what things of the world are okay and what are not okay, but we need to approach how we let outside things into our world in wisdom and not in fear. This goes back to the concept of having trust in the Bible and an anchored theology.
To offer real-life examples of everything they have been discussing, RD and Greg end the podcast sharing their own backgrounds and walks with the Lord over the years.
"I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages." RD referenced this quote by Charles Spurgeon in a sermon he preached back in August, and it is the perfect summation of this podcast episode. Using RD's sermon as a springboard, Greg and RD consider suffering and the ways in which Christians can misinterpret the Bible's teachings on suffering.
Right away, Greg and RD relate that Fellowship Church does not subscribe to the "name it and claim it" gospel. Instead, Fellowship teaches that God is working for your good, as the Bible teaches, even if we never understand how He is working or even if we don't see the good God is doing.
Greg is quick to state that there are truly evil things that happen to Believers, but that we must still say "God is sovereign over everything" and believe that He is bringing about His glory through our suffering; we cannot waiver on the goodness of God. If we start to question God's goodness, we are entering a man-centered theology realm instead of a God-center theology. RD also references Genesis, where we are told that what man meant for evil, God used for His good.
This leads Greg and RD to examine the misconception that God owes us an explanation for our suffering. While God sometimes will show us the reason for our suffering, He does not owe us, nor does He ever promise us, an explanation, and we have to be okay with never knowing why, and trusting that everything, including our suffering, is for God's glory.
When we are walking with someone in their grief, we need to find a balance of reminding them that their suffering is for God's glory but also weeping with those who are weeping, just as Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, even though He knew He would shortly be raising Lazarus from the dead. However, Greg warns that there is a way in which we have to match the place a person is in when they are grieving, but still not let grief get in the way of calling out someone's sin (the example of someone sinning during grief Greg uses is when someone is lashing out in anger at God during suffering).
Greg and RD end with encouraging words of how God is committed to walking through things with you. And as we walk through it with God, we must learn to worship Him through the suffering. A great example of this is in Joni Eareckson Tada, who has said that the first thing she will do with her restored body in Heaven is "to suddenly drop to my knees and not move… [this] will be my joy and a real sacrifice."
Along with Tada, others like Katherine and Jay Wolf, Tim Keller, and C. S. Lewis also share that it is through suffering that God grows us and reveals His glory.
If you have questions about suffering and grief, or would like to reach out to Greg and RD, email them at offstage@fellowshipknox.org
Greg and RD jump right into this Deep Dive episode by talking about Sola Scriptura, or the idea that Scripture alone governs faith and practice, and is the supreme authority over the Church. After spending some time in the ideas behind Sola Scriptura, they discuss the three things that Sola Scriptura rests on:
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Inspiration - the human authors of the Bible were inspired by God
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Inerrancy - God has perfectly communicated the Bible to us
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Sufficiency - The Bible has everything we need for faith and practice
Based on these truths, we can't look at the Scriptures and think "What does this passage or text mean to me?" By looking at the Bible this way, we could be misinterpreting or missing what the text actually means. Instead, we need to focus on what the Bible actually says.
This idea leads Greg and RD to discuss perspicuity, or the truth that the teachings of the Bible are fundamentally clear. This is an important thing to remember because we can make the Bible unclear by the things we bring to the Bible, like our predispositions and expectations.
From there, Greg and RD discuss Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis, and the danger this type of thinking can do to the Bible.
Lastly, RD and Greg hone in on the concept of unity of the Bible, that the Bible is not whimsical or a fairytale, but a living, breathing Word of God that is clear and without error.
Greg and RD jump right into this Deep Dive episode by talking about Sola Scriptura, or the idea that Scripture alone governs faith and practice, and is the supreme authority over the Church. After spending some time in the ideas behind Sola Scriptura, they discuss the three things that Sola Scriptura rests on:
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Inspiration - the human authors of the Bible were inspired by God
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Inerrancy - God has perfectly communicated the Bible to us
-
Sufficiency - The Bible has everything we need for faith and practice
Based on these truths, we can't look at the Scriptures and think "What does this passage or text mean to me?" By looking at the Bible this way, we could be misinterpreting or missing what the text actually means. Instead, we need to focus on what the Bible actually says.
This idea leads Greg and RD to discuss perspicuity, or the truth that the teachings of the Bible are fundamentally clear. This is an important thing to remember because we can make the Bible unclear by the things we bring to the Bible, like our predispositions and expectations.
From there, Greg and RD discuss Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis, and the danger this type of thinking can do to the Bible.
Lastly, RD and Greg hone in on the concept of unity of the Bible, that the Bible is not whimsical or a fairytale, but a living, breathing Word of God that is clear and without error.
After Hannah Brown's comments about her sexual history, Christians took to social media to share their opinions, both negative and positive towards Hannah. In light of this, Greg and RD spend this follow-up episode talking about the distinction between God's love for us and Christians walking in obedience with God.
This obedience to God is different from Legalism, which is often tied to the Pharisees. RD and Greg stress that there is a difference between following God's Word and saying to someone, "You're not a Christian because you didn't do x, y, and z."
In looking at what a healthy pursuit of God and holiness looks like, Greg shares the four non-negotiable things that all Believers need to be doing: Studying the Bible, praying, being in fellowship with other Believers, and engaging in corporate worship. He and RD also discuss how we are given the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Spirit to help guide us, but to be careful to use the Bible's definition of what these are, not our own definitions.
Greg and RD also discuss using the fruits of the Spirit as a way to approach your brother or sister in Christ who is not walking in obedience. Both pastors admit that this is a hard thing to do, but that it is our responsibility as we are all one Body in Christ.
Arguments over Hannah's walk with Jesus began back in July, after an episode aired where Luke P. challenged Hannah's Christianity by asking her about her sexual history. In response, Hannah said, "I have had sex, and honestly, Jesus still loves me." Not only was this a controversial conversation, but it showed a shift in The Bachelorette, as this season is the first in which Christianity has played a part. The producers of the show have since said that they were angling for this conversation between Luke and Hannah to happen, and wanted things to blow up.
Knowing this about Hannah and The Bachelorette, RD and Greg take time to establish that Jesus does love all sinners, but He asks His followers to walk in obedience with His commands; the two reference passages such as Luke 6 and John 14. RD also references Matthew 5, where Jesus talks about even looking at someone lustfully is wrong.
Their discussion also turns to how the Church used to have a lot of societal authority on all kinds of subjects (such as the prohibition of alcohol), but now, it seems society places an over-emphasis of Jesus as a savior and a de-emphasis on Jesus as Lord (meaning people can say things like, "How I behave doesn't change or affect how Jesus feels about me").
RD and Greg's talk culminates with RD sharing a story from his past, where a woman at a party asks him if he really believes having sex before marriage is wrong.
In this introduction to their podcast, RD and Greg share their heart and reason behind starting the podcast, and discuss some of the special episodes they will have throughout the podcasts, like Deep Dive and Rapid Response.
Deep Dive will be a more in-depth, longer podcast episode in which RD and Greg will break down a specific Bible text, and Rapid Response will take a current story in the news and discuss it from a Christian standpoint, to help the listener better know how to discuss the topic in their everyday life.
Through their podcast, Greg and RD will be showcasing how theology and culture intersect, with the hope that it not only brings the listener closer to Christ but encourages Christians to engage with and talk about cultural and theological subjects in confidence.