Converge Podcast: Recent Episodes
Village Church
Also available on YouTube - search "Converge Podcast."
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.
Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate share their thoughts about recent developments in the SBC and the upcoming convention in Indianapolis.
***This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate talk about the vision of Village Church and the big-picture things we want to be known for as a local church.***This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In Part 2 of this 2-part episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss what it looks like to have real Christian hope in a world that is increasingly chaotic and foolish.***This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In Part 1 of this 2-part episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss what it looks like to have real Christian hope in a world that is increasingly chaotic and foolish.
***This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate share updates from the recent SBC convention, and give their thoughts about the state and direction of the SBC.
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.
Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate continue to discuss the need to use different tones for different types of people, in different situations. Sheep, wolves, and fools must each be identified and treated appropriately. The tone police are most triggered.
"Sheep, Wolves, and Fools" by James Wood - https://americanreformer.org/2022/10/sheep-wolves-and-fools/
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.
Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss the need to use different tones for different types of people, in different situations. Sheep, wolves, and fools must each be identified and treated appropriately. The tone police are most triggered.
"Sheep, Wolves, and Fools" by James Wood - https://americanreformer.org/2022/10/sheep-wolves-and-fools/
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.
Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss ways in which unrealistic expectations can sabotage our spiritual life and growth.
***This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss ways in which unrealistic expectations can sabotage our spiritual life and growth.
***This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In the last of a 3-part series, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate give various updates on the state of our local church here in Midlothian. Then they use this as a reference point to discuss the state of national issues for the evangelical Church as a whole.***This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In the second of a 3-part series, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate give various updates on the state of our local church here in Midlothian. Then they use this as a reference point to discuss the state of national issues for the evangelical Church as a whole.
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this first of a 3-part series, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate give various updates on the state of our local church here in Midlothian. Then they use this as a reference point to discuss the state of national issues for the evangelical Church as a whole.
***This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, we respond to a recent online kerfuffle regarding gay marriage. Topics include bigotry, judging salvation, theology of sin, easy believism, political theology, and compromise with the culture.
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This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, we discuss how Christian morality, informed by Scripture, applies to non-Christians. This issue has implications for our understanding and presentation of the Gospel. It also affects how Christians view their societal influence.
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This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, we talk about the idea of forming a culture in the church worth offering to a hurting world. A healthy church both attracts people in and sends them out on mission. A healthy church has a shallow end of the pool and a deep end of the pool. Converge is all about the intersection of doctrine and mission.
In this episode, we offer some pastoral thoughts about why transgenderism is being promoted in our culture, and how the church should view this phenomenon.
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
We've covered many heavy cultural topics in this season of the Converge Podcast. In this episode, we discuss practical steps each of us can take to build robust Christian culture this summer and beyond.
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This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode we discuss the recent Supreme Court leak that could overturn Roe v Wade. Why have some evangelical leaders been hesitant to praise this development, and how should the church think about this issue?
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This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode we discuss a theology of singleness, looking at 1 Corinthians 7. Topics include the gift of celibacy as opposed to singleness, how to approach unwanted singleness, and the role of the church in encouraging the pursuit of marriage.
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This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate do a deep dive on the topic of evolution. How should Christians think with nuance and winsomeness about this complicated topic? What are the range of Christian views, and how can Darwinism fit into the framework of a Christian worldview? These questions and much, much more are addressed in this special edition of the Converge Podcast.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate finish out their 3-part discussion on the implications of Negative World for faithful ministry. Evangelicalism is fracturing because many leaders do not recognize the current threats facing the Church. We need men who know what time it is.
Sources mentioned:
Jake Meador article: https://blogs.mereorthodoxy.com/jake/crt-evangelicals/
Shameful TGC video: https://youtu.be/SDlnwVCyseA?t=1096
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This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate continue their discussion on how ministry has changed in the Negative World. The transition to the Negative World has been particularly difficult for many in the "missional movement." Examining ways the missional movement went off track can help us plot a better strategy going forward.
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This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss a framework for understanding how the Church relates to the broader culture. Understanding the history of "Positive World" and "Neutral World" will help us know how to live faithfully on mission in our current "Negative World" culture.
Aaron Renn's article in First Things: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2022/02/the-three-worlds-of-evangelicalism
Rod Dreher's Benedict Option (also see book by same name): https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/benedict-option-faq/
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate put the "Fun" back in fundamentalism. We discuss the history of fundamentalism, and why the term is being used derogatorily today by some bad actors seeking to move the church in a progressive direction. To help clarify, examples of good and bad fundamentalism are discussed.
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This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate address the issue of whether and when it is ok to say that someone is not a Christian. What does Scripture say about judging others, and evaluating fruit? Current events involving Francis Collins and Stephen Colbert are discussed, along with easy believism vs Lordship salvation, and antinomianism.
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate continue the discussion about cultural pressures related to gender and sexuality.
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss the need to protect kids from increasing cultural pressures related to gender and sexuality.
This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture. Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
In this episode, we discuss our philosophy of preaching at Village Church. We talk about the importance of expository preaching, the need for application, and the role of topical preaching in the life of a local church.
In this episode, we talk about ten influential books that have helped our discipleship. This is not a list of the Puritans, and a few titles may surprise you.
Amazon List With All Books
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/5H8G9HAE2QWC?ref_=wl_share
Individual Book Links
Knowing God – J.I. Packer
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TH65W3C/
Holiness of God/ Chosen By God – R.C. Sproul
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WD3KX7L/
The Gospel According to Jesus- John Macarthur
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016H97GO/
The Gospel According to the Apostles – John Macarthur
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0785271805/?coliid=IAC264XN8E4HC&colid=5H8G9HAE2QWC&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im
The Barbarian Way – Erwin Mcmanus
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VF62MA/
Pursuit of Holiness – Jerry Bridges
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL4ULZA/
Inside Out – Larry Crabb
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZASKTNA/
The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008EGV4BQ/
Desiring God – John Piper
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DEPEO6/
Decision Making and the Will of God – Gary Friesen
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RLBKEA/
What Is the Mission of the Church? – Kevin DeYoung
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LIH9N2/
In this episode, we talk about all the things that it turns out 90s Youth Pastors were right about. A lot of time is spent on moral relativism and absolute truth. We may have mentioned "purity culture," young-earth creationism, and the culture wars - we're not sure, things got crazy.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss the necessity of planning for discipleship. We do not naturally drift towards Christian maturity. Our commitments define our trajectory.
In this final episode of 2020, Steve and Nate discuss Christmas and why it's important for Christians to celebrate during Christmastime. Merry Christmas!
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss how Christians should engage with cultural holidays. From there, they broaden the conversation to consider the framework of Receive, Reject, and Redeem when it comes to engaging culture.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate tackle the topic of political theology. What are the theological foundations of political thought, and how can we learn to place political theology within its proper sphere in the life of the church?
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate talk about the importance of church planting. It's a joy and privilege to be a pastor, and we need to encourage qualified men to pursue the good calling of starting new churches.
Part 2 of 2 episodes about the theology and mission of the gathering of the local church. In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss some of the history behind local church gatherings, as well as pragmatic issues related to the Sunday morning gathering and the mission of the local church.
Part 1 of 2 episodes about the theology and mission of the gathering of the local church. In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss theological considerations behind why local churches gather weekly for public worship.
From Covid to Social Justice to Social Media, 2020 has presented many unique pastoral challenges. In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss the realities of leading a local church in 2020.
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate talk about the relationship of the NT believer to the OT law, specifically in regards to the discontinuity of the law. Topics include legalism, antinomianism, and the fulfillment of the law by Jesus. How should the Christian think through the continued relevance of the OT law, while understanding all the ways the Gospel is better?
In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss the importance of fathers and why fathers matter. Topics include the harms fatherlessness causes in society, causes of fatherlessness, and the Church's response to a culture in need of a Biblical understanding of fatherhood.
Part 2 in a 2-part series on abortion. In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate continue their discussion on abortion from a Biblical worldview. Topics include the political realities of abortion in 2020, the importance of a pro-life worldview, care for women who have had an abortion, and ways to advocate to end abortion.
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This podcast is a ministry of Village Church RVA. We use Scripture to talk about what it looks like to have a Christian worldview in a non-Christian culture.
Join us as we discuss where the mission of God and the doctrine of God converge, as we live faithful Christian lives in the culture around us.
Part 1 in a 2-part series on abortion. In this episode, Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate address the topic of abortion from a Biblical worldview. Topics include the current state of abortion in our nation, understanding the political nature of abortion, the dangers of expanding the definition of pro-life, and orienting Christians to think Biblically about abortion.
Part 2 of our 2 part series entitled "A Covidly Candid Conversation." Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate continue their conversation about God's Law, justice, and a biblical worldview. Topics include Black Lives Matter, riots, empathy, and encouraging Christians to become knowledgeable about actual political solutions from Scripture.
Part 1 of our 2 part series entitled "A Covidly Candid Conversation." Pastor Steve and Pastor Nate discuss current events in light of God's Law, justice, and a biblical worldview. Topics include: racism, societal unrest in response to the murder of George Floyd, critical theory as a failed response, and our need for a response based on Scripture.