Questions That Matter with Randy Newman: Recent Episodes
C.S. Lewis Institute
Join us every two weeks for a fascinating conversation with one of today’s Christian faith leaders. Randy will talk to guests about a wide range of discipleship topics - from evangelism, to growing in faith, to talking about their recent book. Learn more at the www.CSLewisInstitute.org
It’s important that we proclaim a clear and accurate message when we share the gospel. It’s also important that our tone matches the grace of our message. Paul tells us that our speech needs to be done with grace and salt. (See Col. 4:2-6). We need to know what he meant.
Recommended Resources:
- Questioning Faith by Randy Newman (2024)
- Fool's Talk by Os Guinness
- A Welcome Change in Apologetics by Randy Newman
After writing many books on apologetics, Lee Strobel took a slightly different approach in his newest book to help people find the answer to this most important question, Is God Real?
Resources:
Is God Real? by Lee Strobel (2023)
Lee Strobel's website
The Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics
Contagious Faith: Discover Your Natural Style for Sharing Jesus with Others by Mark Mittelberg, forward by Lee Strobel.
Becoming a Contagious Church: Increasing Your Church's Evangelistic Temperature by Mark Mittelberg.
The Case for Christ movie
Most Christians know of Jonathan Edwards and may have heard a quote or two of his. And they’ve been encouraged to read his writings. But he’s really hard to read. So getting help from George Marsden a great historian and biographer is key. This podcast digs into Edwards and what Marsden helps us see clearly.
Resources:
- Marsden's long biography of Edwards: Jonathan Edwards: A Life
- Marsden's shorter biography of Edwards: A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards
- An Infinite Fountain of Light: Jonathan Edwards for the Twenty-First Century by George Marsden, 2023
- The Complete Sermons of Jonathan Edwards
- The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards
- Religious Affections: A Christian's Character Before God by Jonathan Edwards featuring notes from James Houston.
- The Essential Edwards Collection: Set of Five Books
- A Biography of Mere Christianity by George Marsden
Digital technologies, the internet, Facebook, and many other means of connection are having their effects on us. They don’t just tell us what we should believe. (And that’s bad enough!) They also shape how we view ourselves, our world, and our God!
Resources:
- Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age by Samuel D. James
- Digital Liturgies Newsletter
We hate to admit it (and that’s part of the problem) but, sometimes, we get tired - tired of serving God, tired of reading our Bible, tired of going to church. Dai Hankey has experienced all that kind of spiritual fatigue and has good lessons for those who need hope in the midst of exhaustion.
Resources:
Hopeward by Dai Hankey
Red Community: combatting modern slavery in Wales
Other books by Dai Hankey
The Bible tells us a lot about weakness and how God uses the weak to display his greatness and his strength. But we don’t like this theme very much. Aaron Welty explores this important idea and how he sees it play out in movies, stories, comic books and his life.
Resources: Articles by Aaron Welty * The Belfast Oxford Tour * Surprised by Joy* by C.S. Lewis.
The challenges of proclaiming the gospel in our doubt-filled times continue to grow. But we can incorporate numerous strategies for reaching people who are far from belief. This episode explores three.
Resources:
- Questioning Faith by Randy Newman (2024)
- Strategies for Pre-Evangelism video lecture series with Randy Newman
Christians know they should read the Bible. And they’re convinced that it would be good for them. But sometimes our motivation sags. Kristen Wetherell encourages us for those times when our hunger of God’s word dips down.
Resources:
- Kristen’s website
- Help for the Hungry Soul by Kristen Wetherell
- Kristen’s other books
- Bible Reading Plan
How to Read the Bible Podcast
We live in hurried and distracted times. “Fear of Missing Out” actually makes us miss more and more of what’s right in front of us. Adam Ramsey has some great wisdom for how to live faithfully and embrace the limits God has placed on us.
Resources:
- Faithfully Present: Embracing the Limits of Where and When God Has You by Adam Ramsey (Book)
- Liberti Church (the church where Adam pastors)
- Faithful Presence Where Your Feet Are by Adam Ramsey (Article)
God could have made us all the same. But he didn’t! Trillia Newbell writes about this very good idea for children and adults with depth, clarity, and winsomeness.
Resources:
- God's Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell
- Creative God, Colorful Us by Trillia Newbell
- 52 Weeks in the Word by Trillia Newbell
- Keeping The Faith
For a while, people have been told that there’s no such thing as truth. You “create your own truth” and “find your own meaning” within yourself. Many are finding that unsatisfying and are beginning to wonder if there really is truth somewhere. We Christians have a great opportunity to tell them yes, there is truth. I explore this and suggest ways to engage in fruitful evangelistic conversations.
Resources:
- Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner (2023)
- Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain (2023)
- The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin (2023)
- Miracles by C.S. Lewis
- The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
- Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief through Terrains of Doubt by Randy Newman (2024)
Many Christians assume that discipleship begins with adults. But Jared Kennedy has a much bigger (and more Biblical) vision for discipleship that includes and even prioritizes discipling children.
Resources:
- Jared’s bio
- Jared’s article about discipling children
- Jared’s book, "Keeping Your Children's Ministry on Mission"
Jess Archer moved more than a dozen times before she reached the age of 15. As you might guess, that created a fair amount of anxiety in her life. She finds peace in the midst of anxiety through her relationship with the Lord. But it’s far more complex than a simplistic solution.
Resources:
- Jess's Website: www.writerjessarcher.com
- Finding Home with the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Billy Graham: A Memoir of Growing Up Inside the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association by Jess Archer.
Questions are some of the best tools we have in evangelism. They help more than long arguments of things we want people to believe. Greg Koukl helps us use questions in helpful, kind, and gospel-promoting ways.
Resources:
- Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl (2023)
- Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl (2019)
- Questioning Evangelism, Third Edition: Engaging People's Hearts the Way Jesus Did by Randy Newman (2023)
- Stand to Reason Website
God’s word tells us that, as believers, we’re “seated with Christ.” And we’re “sent.” What do those things mean? And how do they weave together?
Resources:
- Heather's Website
- Seated with Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison by Heather Holleman
- Sent: Living a Life That Invites Others to Jesus by Ashley Holleman
- Other books by Heather Holleman
Talking about Jesus can be intimidating. And some things in our current culture work against it. But some other trends may be helping us tremendously. John Hopper shares about ways to make the most of these opportunities.
Resources:
- Search Ministries' website
- Questioning God?: Answers to Questions Worth Asking by John Hopper
- Giving Jesus Away by John Hopper
- Having a Conversation About the Conversation by Randy Newman
Our culture tells us to ignore suffering or downplay it. But it’s unavoidable. Fortunately, the Scriptures don’t ignore the topic. And the gospel offers amazing strength and confident hope in the midst of our honest laments. This conversation explores both those dynamics - hope and lament.
Resources:
- Elise's Blog: Waiting for True Life
- The Widow Song ministry and blog
- Greg and Elise Boro's Story
- Elise's blog posts at Family Life Today
The intersection of faith and emotions can be a tricky one. How do theology and psychology, doctrine and practice, belief and behavior relate? These are the questions that matter addressed in the next podcast. Ed Welch’s insights take center stage.
Resources:
- The Christian Counseling and Education Foundation
- All of Ed Welch's Books
- Two Books About Shame (A Review)
- Ed's Little Books on Anxiety | Anger | Shame
For a while everyone was talking about postmodernism. Kristi Mair, a gifted apologist, says we’re past that now. Now we’re Meta-Modern. And there are some great opportunities for us in our world today because of that.
Resources:
- More Truth: Searching for Certainty in an Uncertain World by Kristi Mair
- Gravity and Grace by Simone Weil
- https://www.solas-cpc.org/
The second century was a crucial time for the Christian church. In the midst of terrible persecution, God’s people found great hope and help in the scriptures and in corporate worship of Jesus. We have much to learn from them and that time.
Resources:
- Michael's Website
- Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church by Michael J. Kruger.
- Michael's Other Books
- Destroyer of the Gods: Early Christian Distinctiveness in the Roman World by Larry Hurtado.
We keep finding out more about C. S. Lewis from his diary, letters, and reports from people who knew him. So a recent 3 volume biography shines more light on aspects of Lewis that we didn’t know before. Hal Poe discusses his recent work and how it has encouraged him.
Recommended Resources:
- C. S. Lewis’s diary
- One relevant collection of C.S. Lewis's essays
- Becoming C. S. Lewis by Harry Lee Poe
Some Christians have been told they should never doubt. But Josh Chatraw and his co-author Jack Carson say that doubt can actually lead to a deeper faith - if handled properly. I chat with Josh about their book and how we can respond well when we face doubts of various kinds.
Resources:
- Surprised by Doubt: How Disillusionment Can Invite Us into a Deeper Faith by Josh Chatraw and Jack Carson.
- Telling a Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age by Josh Chatraw
- Our previous podcast with Josh on Telling Stories.
- The Center for Public Christianity
Logic, arguments, and prose are vital forms of communication. But so are poems, stories, and all sorts of artistic expressions. And the arts can play powerful roles in both our spiritual growth and our outreach. Glen Scrivener of Speak Life shares his insights about this undervalued and underused resource for our lives.
Podcast Resources:
- 3-2-1: The Story of God, the World and You by Glen Scrivener
- The Air We Breathe by Glen Scrivener
- Our previous podcast with Glen
- A New Name: Grace And Healing For Anorexia by Emma Scrivener
- A New Day: Moving On From Hunger, Anxiety, Control, Shame, Anger And Despair by Emma Scrivener
Theology is inevitable. Everyone does it. We all make decisions and statements about what is true about God, his word, our nature, and our ultimate purpose. As Christians we want to make sure that we “do theology” well. Kevin Vanhoozer, professor of Systematic Theology and a C. S. Lewis Senior Fellow helps us tremendously.
Recommended Resources:
- Pictures at a Theological Exhibition: Scenes of the Church's Worship, Witness and Wisdom by Kevin Vanhoozer
- Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs by J.I. Packer
- CSLI Resources from Kevin Vanhoozer
- When Doctrine Divides the People of God: An Evangelical Approach to Theological Diversity by Rhyne R. Putman
Dr. Randy Newman explores words and images used in the New Testament to describe the gospel. Discover the richness of the good news of Jesus which includes: salvation, forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption, adoption, atonement, and more. Learn how you can share the gospel with others using words and images that resonate and connect with diverse audiences and needs.
Recommended Resources:
- Unlikely Converts by Randy Newman
- Motivations to Appeal to in Our Hearers When We Preach for Conversion by D.A. Carson
Louis Markos has written a great deal about C. S. Lewis and the books that Lewis loved - the classics. He and I discuss the connections and how we can all benefit from reading more of Lewis and the books that pointed him to “The True Myth.”
Recommended Resources:
C.S. Lewis for Beginners by Louis Markos (2022).
From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics by Louis Markos (2007)
It’s one thing to have a right standing before God. That’s what Jesus purchased for us at the cross. But it’s another thing to enjoy that new relationship. Experiencing a kind of connection with God that could be described as friendship may seem too good to be true. But that’s how amazing the gospel is and it’s the topic of this podcast featuring special guest Mike McKinley.
Resources:
- Mike's Bio
- Friendship with God: A Path to Deeper Fellowship with the Father, Son, and Spirit by Mike McKinley
- Communion with the Triune God by John Owen.
- Are You Really a Christian? A Questions that Matter Podcast featuring Mike McKinley
There’s more to answering people’s questions than just knowing the right answer. Making sure we understand what they’re really asking and knowing how to present a response takes wisdom, patience, and sensitivity.
Recommended Resources:
- Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman
- Bringing the Gospel Home by Randy Newman
- Unlikely Converts by Randy Newman
- Making Sense out of Suffering by Peter Kreeft
We benefit greatly from the technological advances we’ve seen in our world in recent years. But there are problems that come with those advances. Keith Plummer and I discuss the pros and cons of technology and, in particular, how it can shape us in ways we may not realize.
Recommended Resources:
- Keith Plummer’s bio
- The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics
- Alan Noble’s book Disruptive Witness
- Sherry Turkle’s TED Talk and her book Reclaiming Conversation
Some people may be concerned about people between the ages of 18 and 28. And they have good reason for that concern. But there’s also good reason for hope. Shelby Abbott has ministered to this age group for over 20 years and his insights are very helpful.
Recommended Resources:
- Shelby's Website
- Shelby's Podcast
- Shelby's Books
This week we are presenting to you an interview from January 2020 when Art Lindsley discussed 'Strategies For Apologetics'. Art Lindsey is a senior teaching fellow at the C.S. Lewis institute and the Vice President of Theological Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Works, & Economics. He has written: Love: The Ultimate Apologetic, The Case for Christ and True Truth. And Art has a wonderful 20-part video series available for free on the C.S. Lewis Institute website called The Basic Apologetics Course.
The Bible has a lot to say about why we should pray and how powerful prayer is. But did you know that academicians study prayer to see how it effects the person praying? My guest on this podcast is my son, David Newman, who has a PhD in Social Psychology and has recently published a paper about prayer, studied from a social science perspective. The implications for Christians are varied and quite helpful.
Recommended Resource:
David Newman's Website
God has blessed my (Randy Newman’s) book Questioning Evangelism far more than I could have ever imagined when the book was first released almost 20 years ago. We use the book in our CSLI Fellows Program and people have said the book has helped them share the good news in effective ways. This newest edition updates some illustrations, considers evangelism after the Covid Pandemic, and includes a new chapter on how Christians can answer questions about science.
Resources:
Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman (2023)
Other books from Randy Newman
Are you interested in sharing your faith with Muslim friends? Dr. Andy Bannister shares meaningful ways to reach out with a surprising familiar approach.
Recommended Resources:
- Reaching Muslims: A One-Stop Guide for Christians by Nick Chatrath
- Solas: Persuasively Communicating Christ in Today's Culture
God has done so many wonderful things through is people over the centuries. There are powerful lessons to learn. Ben Virgo leads tours through London that highlight the great works of people God has used. He’s a fountain of joyous stories and important insights.
Recommended Resources:
Ben's Ministry
William Wilberforce: His Unpublished Spiritual Journals by Michael McMullen (2021)
The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality by Glen Scrivener (2022)
For some people, a more emotional or affective approach to evangelism and apologetics connects better than a more cognitive or philosophical method. Gavin Ortlund helps us explore this different approach.
Recommended Resources:
- Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't: The Beauty of Christian Theism by Gavin Ortlund (2021)
All people are looking for answers to big questions - even if they suppress those questions. They probably are answering those questions in bad ways and trying to drink from “cracked cisterns.” We can point them to the better answer of the gospel. Learn more in this episode of Questions That Matter as Randy Newman discusses "Magnetic Faith" with Dan Strange.
Recommended Resources:
- Dan Strange's Website
- Making Faith Magnetic: Five Hidden Themes Our Culture Can't Stop Talking About by Dan Strange (2021)
C. S. Lewis wove dozens of Biblical themes into his Narnia Chronicles. But some of them may escape our notice. Christin Ditchfield has written a helpful guide so we don’t miss them - and can teach them to our children and grandchildren in delightful ways.
Recommended Resources:
- Christin's Website
- A Family Guide to Narnia by Christin Ditchfield
- Biblical Truths in Narnia
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t it? But for many of our friends, it’s a time with nothing more to offer than presents, egg nog, and songs about Santa and Frosty. On this episode’s conversation with Rico Tice, we explore how to offer people the best news they can ever hear - the very heart of what Christmas is all about.
Recommended Resources:
- Christianity Explored
- The Ultimate Christmas Wishlistby Rico Tice (2022)
- Other Christmas books from The Good Book Company
The book of Revelation begins and ends with a promise that readers will be blessed. Yet many of us are intimidated by the book and leave it untouched. Nancy Guthrie helps us overcome our reluctance to read this crucial part of God’s word.
Show Notes:
Nancy’s book: Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation
Nancy's Website: nancyguthrie.com
Book: I'm Praying for You
You may not know Henry Tanner’s work but we all should. Tanner “preaches with his brush” and shines a unique light on Biblical scenes through his painting.
Show Notes:
Russ’s book Rembrandt is in the Wind
Russ's website: Why I Started Art Wednesday
Art Wednesday/Fathom Columns
We all know we need to read the Bible. But we do need a little help getting into it for ourselves. Gary Millar’s book, Read This First really helps with this in a clear concise way.
Learn More:
- Meet Gary Millar
- Read This First: A Simple Guide to Getting the Most from the Bible by Gary Millar
- Jesus Betrayed and Crucified: A Message from Gary Millar
We need all the encouragement we can get in evangelism, especially in our world today that sees Christians as the “bad guys.” Sam Chan helps us a ton.
Recommended Resources:
How to Talk about Jesus (Without Being That Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World by Sam Chan.
Use the Bible to introduce your friends in Jesus. Discover how you can open the Bible with someone and allow them to meet Jesus for themselves.
Explore tools to help you live your faith and share Jesus at work through the City Bible Forum.
After over 40 years in pastoral ministry, Steve King has many powerful lessons about perseverance, not losing heart, and joy along the way.
Recommended Reading:
Beware the Slow Leaks: Eight Ways Ministry Leaders Can Thrive and Finish Strong by Steve King
Knowing how to engage in good conversations with Mormon friends and acquaintances is crucial in our pluralistic world today. Former Mormon and apologist, Corey Miller shares his very helpful insights from his experiences and study.
Recommended Resources:
- Engaging with Mormons: Understanding Their World; Sharing Good News by Corey Miller.
- Ratio Christi is a global movement that equips university students and faculty to give historical, philosophical, and scientific reasons for following Jesus Christ.
Russ Ramsey loves art and he wants more and more Christians to love art. Not just for art’s sake; but for the sake of loving our God who made our world with so much beauty.
Recommended Resources:
Rembrandt Is in the Wind: Learning to Love Art through the Eyes of Faith by Russ Ramsey (2022)
Russ Ramsey's website
Art Wednesday: Weekly Reflections on beauty in art.
If Vincent Van Gogh Could Have Met C. S. Lewis by Randy Newman
Everyone - and we do mean everyone - is living out a story that shapes their lives, their perspective, and their hopes. The problem is, their stories are not helping them live according to God’s story. That story, the gospel, is better. In this episode we explore how to tell that better story.
Recommended Resources:
- Center for Public Christianity
- Telling a Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age by Josh Chatraw (2020)
- The Mark of the Christian by Francis Schaeffer (2006)
Apologetics without evangelism leaves the task unfinished. Evangelism without apologetics risks a shallow approach to a very deep process. Andy Bannister helps us weave the two together.
Recommended Resources:
- https://www.andybannister.net
- https://www.solas-cpc.org
- The Atheist Who Didn't Exist: Or the Dreadful Consequences of Bad Arguments by Andy Bannister
Western society holds strongly to some foundational values like equality, freedom, kindness, progress, and others. But all these values have Christian roots. Helping our non-Christian friends see this can help them move from unbelief to saving faith.
Recommended Resources
The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality by Glenn Scrivener
3 2 1: The Story of God, the World and You by Glenn Scrivener
The Case Against the Sexual Revolution by Louise Perry
Learn more about Glenn
We’ve heard that C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and others were part of something called “The Inklings.” But what actually happened in those gatherings and how did that shape their writings. We’ll explore that theme and related topics in this episode.
Recommended Resources
https://www.dianaglyer.com
Bandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings, Paperback – December 8, 2015
A Compass for Deep Heaven: Navigating the C. S. Lewis Ransom Trilogy, Paperback – August 3, 2021
In our technologically connected but personally lonely world, the antidote to loneliness is friendship. Joe Kohm shares insights he’s learned about friendship through his study of the lifelong connection between C. S. Lewis and his best friend Arthur Greeves.
Resources:
The Unknown Garden of Another's Heart: The Surprising Friendship between C.S. Lewis and Arthur Greeves by Joseph Kohm (2022)
They Stand Together: The Letters of C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves (1914-1963)
A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken (2009)
Is God anti-gay? by Sam Allberry (2013)
Want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord? Could you benefit from trusted resources on discipleship, apologetics, evangelism, and the Christian life?
The C.S. Lewis Institute recently released a new website offering 46 years worth of content from top Christian speakers, pastors, and scholars. With courses for individuals and small groups, multi-media workshops, videos, articles, and more, there’s something for everyone.
On today’s podcast we’ll explore the CSLI website and share tools designed to help you grow in your faith and equip you to reach others for Christ.
To learn more, please visit: https://cslewisinstitute.org
We know that God is Lord “over all.” But do we live, moment by moment, aware of his hand on every aspect of our lives? Steve Garber helps us avoid compartmentalization and pursue a whole, integrated, worshipful life.
Recommended Reading:
The Seamless Life: A Tapestry of Love and Learning, Worship and Work by Steve Garber (2020)
Read more from Steve Garber at the C.S. Lewis Institute.
Additional articles by Steve Garber from the Washington Institute for Faith, Vocation, and Culture.
If you’ve seen the recent movie The Most Reluctant Convert, you’ve seen the artistic skill of director Norman Stone. On this podcast Norman shares his perspective as a Christian and a director about the unique genre of film and why it moves us so much.
Learn More:
About Norman Stone
The Most Reluctant Convert movie
C.S. Lewis Through the Shadowlands movie
The unique art form of jazz, especially because of its essence of improvisation, has some powerful implications for our spiritual growth. Chip Hammond is both a Presbyterian pastor and a jazz drummer. We discuss the intersection of the world of jazz and faith.
Chip’s church’s website: https://www.bethelpres.com
Spirituality in a Minor Key: https://www.bethelpres.com/articles/jazz-interview
Recommended Reading:
A Supreme Love: The Music of Jazz and the Hope of the Gospel by William Edgar
No More Faking Fine: Ending the Pretending by Esther Fleece Allen
At the C. S. Lewis Institute, we’re all about “Discipleship of the Heart and Mind.” But we’d hate for people to think we view this as a purely individual effort. Discipleship must occur in community and, especially, through the community of the local church. That’s the topic of my conversation with CSLI Senior Fellow and local pastor Bill Kynes.
Go Deeper:
Discipleship is a Team Sport by Bill Kynes.
Insourcing: Bringing Discipleship Back to the Local Church by Randy Pope.
Have you ever been invited to a Passover Seder? I hope so. It’s filled with wonder and awe and points powerfully to how Jesus the Messiah fulfilled the picture of salvation in the Exodus story. This podcast fills in some gaps you may not have heard about.
Recommended Resources:
https://www.thegoodbook.com/engaging-with-jewish-people
https://jewsforjesus.org/jewish-resources/jewish-holidays/passover/
https://www.chosenpeople.com
https://brushfire.com/chosenpeople/virtual-Messiah-in-the-Passover/529067
God created us as story-creatures and, as such, we relate to and are shaped by stories. Reading and enjoying fiction is not a silly diversion but can be a powerful source of spiritual transformation. Trevin Wax and I explore this theme in our discussion of Victor Hugo’s vast novel Les Miserables.
Recommended Reading
Trevin’s new book that helps readers access Chesterton’s Orthodoxy.
The specific translation of Les Miserables we recommend.
C.S. Lewis’s essay “On Stories” can be found here.
St. John’s College has a unique mission of educating people through the careful reading of and respectful discussion of the great books of Western Civilization. My guest, Jim Phillips, the founder and former director of our C. S. Lewis Institute in Annapolis had the privilege of studying there. He shares how Gods’ story of the gospel finds resonance with so many other stories.
Recommended Resources:
When Athens Met Jerusalem: An Introduction to Classical and Christian Thought by John Mark Reynolds. Purchase on Amazon.
Great Books Reader, The: Excerpts and Essays on the Most Influential Books in Western Civilization by John Mark Reynolds. Purchase on Amazon.
https://www.johnlennox.org
Did you start some good reconnecting with people during the early stages of Covid-19? Perhaps it’s time to renew those conversations. This could be a great time to reach out to non-Christians and offer hope from sources other than policies and medicine.
Recommended Tools:
https://cslewismovie.com
https://www.thegoodbook.com
https://hope.explo.red
Faith Over Covid Articles:
Reaching Out While Staying In by Randy Newman.
Life on the Edge: Discipleship in the Age of the Coronavirus by Karl "KJ" Johnson.
How the Book of Job Answers the Questions Raised by the Coronavirus by Will Kynes.
Can anyone really say for certain that they are a Christian? (The answer is yes.) Are there some who think they’re Christian but they’re really not? (The answer, again, is yes.) Pastor and author Mike McKinley helps us think through and wrestle with these eternally urgent questions.
Recommended Resources:
Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley (9Marks, 2011)
Health, Wealth, and the (Real) Gospel: The Prosperity Gospel Meets the Truths of Scripture. by Sean Demars and Mike McKinley (Christian Focus, 2022)
An increasing number of Americans are saying they have no particular religion. They are part of “The Rise of the Nones” and we need to know how to tell them the good news of the gospel. Ben Hein has had quite a bit of good experience in conversations with many of these people and his compassionate approach is refreshing. . .
Want to go deeper in your faith? Consider the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Program, a year-long, tuition-free discipleship program that leads to significant life change.
Recommended Reading:
The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going by Ryan P. Burge (Fortress Press, 2021).
Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tina Isabella Burton (Public Affairs, 2020).
How should we respond when we see lawn signs that tell us what the people in their house believe - especially when some of the things they state go against what the Bible teaches. Rebecca McLaughlin has written a helpful book to answer that important question that matters.
Visit Rebecca's website.
Recommended Reading:
The Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims by Rebecca McLaughlin (2021)
In this provocative book, Rebecca McLaughlin helps us disentangle the beliefs Christians gladly affirm from those they cannot embrace, and invites us to talk with our neighbors about the things that matter most. Far from opposing love across difference, McLaughlin argues, Christianity is the original source and firmest foundation for true diversity, equality, and life-transforming love. Purchase your copy.
10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin (2021)
Backed by state-of-the-art research, personal stories, illustrations, and careful biblical study, this book doesn’t dodge tough questions. Instead, it invites teenagers to ask their hardest questions about Christianity and to find surprising, life-giving answers. Purchase your copy.
Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love: How a Violent Klansman Became a Champion of Racial Reconciliation by Thomas Tarrants (2019)
A dramatic story of radical transformation, Tom Tarrants shares his journey from violent clansman to pastor and advocate of reconciliation. His story demonstrates that hope is not lost even in the most tumultuous of times. Purchase you copy.
Our world desperately needs hope - and the gospel is the absolute best source of this scarce commodity. Christianity Explored has put together a helpful resource to point lost people to the Savior who provides hope.
Learn more at:
- https://www.christianityexplored.org
- https://hope.explo.red
- https://www.thegoodbook.com/honest-evangelism
Books have always played a strategic role in discipleship. God chose to reveal himself in a book, the Bible. And reading has a powerful effect on how we grow spiritually. My conversation with Tim Thornborough of The Good Book Company explores what books people are reading and what reading-trends can tell us about God’s people in God’s world.
Learn more at:
https://www.thegoodbook.com
https://www.thegoodbook.com/series/gods-word-for-you/
As C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien knew, fiction works in ways that non-fiction doesn’t. It “sneaks past watchful dragons” and engages the imagination in powerful ways. Katy Morgan believes that writing for children is a high calling and she’s done so in a beautiful way.
Recommended Resources:
The Promise and the Light: A Christmas Retelling by Katy Morgan. Paperback | Audio Book
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones. Amazon
With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, we may feel some pressure to make the most of this opportunity and “give our family the gospel.” We’ll explore why this may be difficult but not impossible on this special episode of Questions that Matter with Randy Newman.
Recommended Reading:
Bringing the Gospel Home by Randy Newman. Crossway Publishing, 2011.
Jesus is off limits for a lot of families and friends—or at least that’s how it appears sometimes. Why does sharing the good news with a stranger often feel less frightening than telling those you love most?
Bringing the Gospel Home will help any Christian seeking to guide loved ones into the family of God. Learn more and purchase your copy here.
Stories, whether told in literature or on stage or through film are powerful. Stories about someone’s conversion are especially moving. Max McLean, the star of the new movie “The Most Reluctant Convert” and I discuss his movie as well as the power of story.
Explore more from the Fellowship for Performing Arts.
Learn more about the movie The Most Reluctant Convert.
God’s people have always sought creative ways to convey the gospel. Callom Harkrader’s experiences with dramatic presentations of the Gospel of Mark have been used by God in delightful ways. He shares about this unique ministry and how drama and theater can “sneak past watchful dragons.”
Learn more about The Mark Drama.
In our world today, many people never give the Christian faith a moment’s consideration because they assume it makes no sense and doesn’t fit the realities of life. Simon Edwards would point people in the exact opposite direction - that faith makes sense and makes the most sense of our world and our lives in this world.
Recommending Reading:
The Sanity of Belief: Why Faith Makes Sense, by Simon Edwards.
Questions around sexuality and gender are always before us in our highly sexualized world. Author and pastor Sam Allberry helps us think deeply and clearly and communicate compassionately about these difficult topics.
Note: This episode may not be appropriate for children, due to the frank discussion about sexuality.
Show Notes:
Learn more about Sam Allberry and visit his author page.
VIDEO: Sam Allberry explains how the message of Jesus on marriage is life-giving.
Have you ordered your copy of Mere Evangelism by Randy Newman yet? This episode will highlight some of the key concepts in the book.
Click here to order Randy's book.
One of the most important questions we face - over the course of our entire lives - is “How do we discern God’s will.” Bill Fullilove has lots of experience helping people with this crucial question and we explore it together. We especially consider where our own desires fit in the process.
Show Notes:
“Because I Want To?” – A Christian Approach to Desire and Vocational Calling, by Bill Fullilove.
We’re called to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Some of us gravitate toward the intellectual side and love God with our mind. Others go in the opposite direction toward feelings. But these should not be in opposition to each other. Rather, we’re whole persons called to love God with our whole being. Tom Schwanda helps us pursue this integrated approach to discipleship.
Show Notes
Books by Tom Schwanda:
The Emergence of Evangelical Spirituality: The Age of Edwards, Newton, and Whitefield (Classics of Western Spirituality)
https://www.amazon.com/Emergence-Evangelical-Spirituality-Whitefield-Classics/dp/0809106213/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1628787635&refinements=p_27%3ATom+Schwanda&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Tom+Schwanda
Soul Recreation: The Contemplative Mystical Piety of Puritanism
https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Recreation-Contemplative-Mystical-Piety-Puritanism/dp/1610974557/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&qid=1628787707&refinements=p_27%3ATom+Schwanda&s=books&sr=1-2&text=Tom+Schwanda
Stan Wallace has explored the life of the mind for decades. He's interacted with Christian professors in a wide range of academic fields for a long time, and he helps them live out their callings in secular universities. The lessons he’s learned along the way apply to all believers in all callings.
Show Notes:
https://global-scholars.org
Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul.
By J.P. Moreland
https://www.christianbook.com/role-reason-life-soul-revised-updated/j-p-moreland/9781617479007/pd/479007?event=ESRCG
It’s easy to get stuck in the present and not learn or benefit from the past. Dave Moore loves history but laments that many Christians don’t share his enthusiasm. But this is more than a matter of taste. We must value how God has worked in the past or we’ll not grow in our faith the ways we need to.
Show Notes:
Stuck in the Present: How History Frees and Forms Christians
by David George Moore
https://www.amazon.com/Stuck-Present-History-Frees-Christians/dp/168426460X/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=David+Moore&qid=1626368493&sr=8-2
C. S. Lewis’s book The Abolition of Man may be one of his most important books. Unfortunately, it’s also one of his most difficult books. We all need some help getting the full force of the important argument in it. Michael Ward has written a very helpful guide and shows how Lewis’s insights were prophetic when he wrote them in 1943 and may be even more important in our current day and age.
Show Notes:
After Humanity: A Guide to C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man
by Michael Ward
https://www.amazon.com/After-Humanity-Guide-Lewiss-Abolition-ebook/dp/B093TKK5W1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Michael+Ward&qid=1625165474&sr=8-1
Randy Newman’s last book Unlikely Converts and his upcoming release Mere Evangelism provide the backdrop of this discussion about how people believe the gospel and what lessons we can learn from those insights.
Show Notes:
by Randy Newman
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=unlikely+converts+randy+newman&crid=2C1ZRSWNNNYVD&sprefix=Unlikely+Converts+%2Caps%2C158&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_18
https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=Unlikely+Converts%3A+Improbable+Stories+of+Faith+and+What+They+Teach+Us+About+Evangelism+by+Randy+Newman&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1&ps_exit=RETURN%7Cnew&ps_domain=www
Do we have a firm basis for believing that Jesus rose from the dead? Scholar and author Gary Habermas certainly thinks so. And he shoud know. He’s done more research about the resurrection than anyone and has written over 20 books on the topic.
Show Notes
The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus
by Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona
https://www.amazon.com/Case-Resurrection-Jesus-Gary-Habermas-ebook/dp/B001QOGJY0/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Gary+Habermas&qid=1622565161&sr=8-4
Beyond Death: Exploring the Evidence for Immortality
by Gary Habermas and J. P. Moreland
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Death-Exploring-Evidence-Immortality/dp/1592445098/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=Gary+Habermas&qid=1622565161&sr=8-6
Did the Resurrection Happen?: A Conversation with Gary Habermas and Antony Flew (Veritas Books)
Part of: Veritas Books (8 Books) | by Gary R. Habermas , Antony Flew, et al.
https://www.amazon.com/Did-Resurrection-Happen-Conversation-Habermas/dp/0830837183/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=Gary+Habermas&qid=1622565161&sr=8-7
The Risen Jesus and Future Hope
by Gary R. Habermas
https://www.amazon.com/Risen-Jesus-Future-Hope/dp/0742532879/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=Gary+Habermas&qid=1622565161&sr=8-8
We’re facing a growing tide of harmful views about gender and sexuality. Fortunately, the gospel is good news in all situations. Author Nancy Pearcey shares encouraging and deep insights from her recent book Love Thy Body: Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality.
C.S. Lewis Institute President, Joel Woodruff, tells about his new book “Discipleship with C. S. Lewis.” A guide for discipleship using Mere Christianity as the launching point for many great discussions that promote spiritual growth.
Show Note: Discipleship with C.S. Lewis: A Guide to Mere Christianity for Small Groups and Mentoring Relationships
https://www.amazon.com/Discipleship-C-S-Lewis-Christianity-Relationships/dp/1543995233/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Joel+Woodruff&qid=1614801659&sr=8-1
David Mathis has a different take on the spiritual disciplines than we often hear or read about. He sees them as ways to enjoy Jesus! His insights are practical, realistic, and inspirational.
Show Notes:
https://www.desiringgod.org/authors/david-mathis
https://www.desiringgod.org/books/habits-of-grace
Our culture tells us we can create our own identity any way we want. But Scripture tells us our identity comes from God, who created us in his image, and recreates us by the power of the gospel. Part of our new identity is as “servants of the Lord.” New Testament scholar Matt Harmon points us to the important theme of “The Servant of the Lord” in scripture and how we who follow Jesus, “the servant par excellence,” can find our true identity.
Show Notes:
The Servant of the Lord and His Servant People: Tracing a Biblical Theme Through the Canon (New Studies in Biblical Theology, Volume 54)
by Matthew S. Harmon
https://www.amazon.com/Servant-Lord-His-People-Biblical/dp/0830810358/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Matthew+Harmon+NSBT&qid=1613162879&s=books&sr=1-1
Asking the Right Questions: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Applying the Bible
by Matthew S. Harmon
https://www.amazon.com/Asking-Right-Questions-Practical-Understanding/dp/1433554291/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
For decades the Christian church has failed to engage the culture in helpful, gospel-shaped ways. Darrell Bock’s newest book Cultural Intelligence: Living for God in a Diverse Pluralistic World can help us change that.
Description: As we pursue “discipleship of the heart and mind” we know that art and beauty can enhance the “heart” part. Art lover Brett McCracken explores this and challenges us to pursue wisdom through the arts.
For Show Notes:
https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Pyramid-Feeding-Post-Truth-World/dp/1433569590/?tag=thegospcoal-20
https://www.brettmccracken.com
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/dont-fill-every-moment-content/
Listen and to subscribe
https://questions-that-matter-with-randy-newman.castos.com/
Description: Learning about C.S. Lewis’s childhood in Belfast gives great insight to his books and later life. Sandy Smith has been providing tours of Belfast for over 20 years pointing extensively to key locations of Lewis’s life. In this interview, we hear about some of those locations and the ways Lewis has shaped Sandy’s faith.
Show notes:
Lewis and the Island of his birth
https://www.cslewis.com/the-island-of-his-birth/
https://www.amazon.com/C-S-Lewis-Island-His-Birth/dp/1908188456/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=C.+S.+Lewis+and+the+Island+of+his+birth&qid=1614194819&sr=8-1
Articles by Sandy Smith:
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Surprised_by_Belfast_Significant_Sites_in_the_Land_and_Life_of_CS_Lewis_Part_I_Little_Lea_page6
https://www.amazon.com/C-S-Lewis-Island-His-Birth/dp/1908188456/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=C.+S.+Lewis+and+the+Island+of+his+birth&qid=1614194819&sr=8-1
Christians are called to be ready to make a defense of the faith. But as cultures change, the questions and approaches to that task shift. Philosopher Paul Gould helps us navigate these tricky waters through insights from his book Cultural Apologetics.
Many—including many Christians—no longer perceive the world in its proper light. As a result, the Christian imagination is muted. Moreover, the church has grown anti-intellectual and sensate, out of touch with the relevancy of Jesus and how to relate the gospel to all aspects of contemporary life. As a result, the Christian voice is muted. In this age Christian wholeness remains elusive, blunting the church's ability to present a winsome and compelling witness for faith. As a result, the Christian conscience is muted.
Cultural Apologetics addresses this malaise by setting forth a fresh model for cultural engagement, rooted in the biblical account of Paul's speech on Mars Hill, which details practical steps for reestablishing the Christian voice, conscience, and imagination. Readers will be equipped to see, and help others see, the world as it is—deeply beautiful, mysterious, and sacred.
https://www.christianbook.com/cultural-apologetics-paul-gould/9780310530497/pd/530490?event=ESRCG
Even the most devoted C.S. Lewis fans may not know of or have never read some of his most important works, such as The Discarded Image and An Experiment in Criticism. Jerry Root and Mark Neal sought to correct this problem with their helpful book The Neglected C.S. Lewis. In this podcast they introduce us to their book and many of Lewis’s books you’ll want to read after hearing about them.
Show Notes:
The Neglected C.S. Lewis: Exploring the Riches of His Most Overlooked Books by Mark Neal, Jerry Root
Many Christians know Lewis as a children's writer or apologist---but he was also a literary historian and scholar. Neal and Root trace signature ideas in some of these critical works, including The Allegory of Love and The Discarded Image, and point out how they also appear in his more familiar books.
https://www.christianbook.com/neglected-lewis-exploring-riches-overlooked-books/mark-neal/9781640602946/pd/602944?event=ESRCG
Our Deepest Desires: How the Christian Story Fulfills Human Aspirations(https://www.christianbook.com/deepest-desires-christian-fulfills-human-aspirations/gregory-ganssle/9780830851829/pd/851829?event=ESRCG#CBD-PD-Description)
By: Gregory E. Ganssle
As human beings, we are created with desires. We all long for meaningful relationships, lives that reflect goodness, engagements with beauty, and the freedom to pursue our lives with integrity. But where can our restless hearts find fulfillment for these universal longings? Philosopher and apologist Greg Ganssle argues that the Christian story grounds and explains the things that we care about most. With grace and insight, Ganssle explains how the good news of Jesus Christ makes sense of—and fulfills—our deepest desires. Instead of arguing philosophically or deductively, he unpacks the key features of our deep concerns and shows how the elements of the Christian story align best with those features. Arguing that it is only in the particular claims of the Christian faith, not the atheistic story, that our universal human aspirations can find fulfillment and our restless hearts will be at peace.
Description - Historian Joe Loconte digs into the lives of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, their friendship, and how their experiences in World War I shaped them for their entire lives. Joe’s book A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and a Great War and his forthcoming documentary based on the book sparked our conversations on this episode of “Questions That Matter.”
Show Notes:
A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War
By: Joseph Loconte
https://www.christianbook.com/hobbit-a-wardrobe-and-great-war/joseph-loconte/9780718021771/pd/74043EB?event=ESRCG
Had there been no Great War, there would have been no Hobbit, no Lord of the Rings, no Narnia, and perhaps no conversion to Christianity by C. S. Lewis.
The First World War laid waste to a continent and brought about the end of innocence—and the end of faith. Unlike a generation of young writers who lost faith in the God of the Bible, however, J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis found that the Great War deepened their spiritual quest. Both men served as soldiers on the Western Front, survived the trenches, and used the experience of that conflict to ignite their Christian imagination.
Tolkien and Lewis produced epic stories infused with the themes of guilt and grace, sorrow and consolation. Giving an unabashedly Christian vision of hope in a world tortured by doubt and disillusionment, the two writers created works that changed the course of literature and shaped the faith of millions. This is the first book to explore their work in light of the spiritual crisis sparked by the conflict.
Dane Ortlund has written a great book, Gentle and Lowly, that helps us live in constant awareness of Christ’s affections and love for his people. It’s one thing to know what Christ accomplished on the cross. But do you know how he feels about you now? Dane and I explore this topic for our ongoing spiritual growth in this conversation.
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
By: Dane Ortlund
https://www.christianbook.com/gentle-lowly-heart-christ-sinners-sufferers/dane-ortlund/9781433566134/pd/566134?product_redirect=1&search_term=Gentle%20and%20Lowly&Ntt=566134&item_code=&ps_exit=PRODUCT&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP
Christians know what Jesus Christ has done—but who is he? What is his deepest heart for his people, weary and faltering on their journey toward heaven? Jesus said he is “gentle and lowly in heart.” In Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund reflects on these words, opening up a neglected yet central truth about who Jesus is for sinners and sufferers today.
Many of us feel intimidated by talking to atheists. We assume they’re highly intellectual with many thought-out arguments against God. Not so, says Jana Harmon who interviewed over 50 former Atheists who now believe in Jesus. The lessons she learned can encourage even the most timid of Christians to reach out and watch God work.
Show Notes:
Subscribe to the Side B Podcast:
https://the-side-b-podcast.castos.com
Dr. Jimmy Lin: An Intersection of Science and Faith - Dr. Jimmy Lin is the Chief Scientific Officer at Freenome, a research institute that seeks to detect, treat, and ultimately prevent diseases. He also oversees a non-profit organization that researches rare diseases. As a Christian, he sees himself as a “scientific doxologist” and encourages Christians to worship God as creator and healer.
Science and Faith by Alister McGrath
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Science_Faith
Faith, Fact or Fantasy: Truth in a Scientific World - Part I by Michael Ramsden
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Truth_in_Scientific_World_Part_I_Ramsden_Audio