The Brian Dainsberg Podcast: Recent Episodes
Brian Dainsberg
Living the Christian life in today's world is complicated. This podcast will unpack some of the cultural issues we're facing and how we can continue to "Fight the good fight of the faith (1 Tim. 6:12)."
(Originally Published on December 15, 2021)
Satisfying personal desires has become the definition of the "good life." Follow this notion far enough and it leads to distorted definitions that end in moral chaos. If you want to understand cancel culture, you've got to start here. This episode will explain five outcomes of this approach to life and offer biblical correctives to each one.
Resources:
- The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution - Carl R. Trueman
- Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution - Carl R. Trueman
(Originally Published on November 15, 2021)
Satisfying personal desires has become the definition of the "good life." Follow this notion far enough and it leads to distorted definitions that end in moral chaos. If you want to understand cancel culture, you've got to start here.
Resources:
- The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution - Carl R. Trueman
Forgiveness sounds simple—until you actually have to do it. This episode will unpack why our culture gets forgiveness wrong, why it’s so hard for us personally, and how the cross reshapes everything. If you’ve ever wrestled with letting go, this conversation might be the doorway to real freedom.
Resources:
- Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? - Timothy Keller
It can be very difficult to ascertain a single plotline in a book as large as the Bible. But there is one. In this "out of the box" episode, you'll hear the story of the Bible in 15 minutes.
A former Hollywood actor recently made a splash, sort of, in the Christian digital world when he announced his support for "annihilationism." It's a word many are likely unfamiliar with. So what is this view? And does it make sense of the biblical witness?
Resources:
- Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment - Christopher W. Morgan (editor), Robert A. Peterson (editor)
Don't human beings have to have free will in order for love to be authentic? What role does God have in securing the love of his creatures? Welcome to a big, deep topic.
Resources:
- God Reforms Hearts: Rethinking Free Will and the Problem of Evil - Thaddeus Williams
More than one billion people around the world speak English as a second language. But they don't speak it well and live in cultures where information is passed along orally. So how do we get God's Word into their minds and hearts? Special guest Ian Bultman will help explain that and how you are or can be a part of it.
Resources:
- https://www.easyenglish.bible/bible/easy/
- https://brinkmanadventures.com/
- https://www.wycliffe.org/
It has a complicated history, but knowing something about feminism's ideological genealogy is important to discerning its usefulness to the Christian life. This episode will provide a brief overview of feminism's history and some pastoral reflections on its foundations.
Resources:
- God's Design for Man and Woman: A Biblical-Theological Survey - Andreas J. Kostenberger & Margaret E. Köstenberger
The reliability of the Bible is contested in every generation. Every generation has to find ways to provide sound reasons for believing its truthfulness. This episode will highlight three reasons the New Testament in particular ought to be believed.
Resources:
- Why I Trust the Bible: Answers to Real Questions and Doubts People Have about the Bible - William D. Mounce
- The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? - F. F. Bruce
Religious liberty is a "culture war" issue these days. It's often discussed in civics classes, but is it a biblical and theological concept? You might be surprised to find out how many biblical motifs are connected to this subject.
Resources:
- Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World - David VanDrunen
- Political Church: The Local Assembly as Embassy of Christ's Rule - Jonathan Leeman
- Liberty for All: Defending Everyone's Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age - Andrew T. Walker
On September 10, countless cameras captured the shocking and brutal assassination of Charlie Kirk. Though his life was cut short, he left behind noble examples that continue to inspire. For Christians, walking through this tragedy presents an opportunity to learn how to face moments of evil with wisdom and faith.
Sports aren't just an American phenomenon. They are a global phenomenon. Just consider the popularity of soccer. What are we to make of it? Are they good? Bad? Useful? Should we enjoy them? Or shun them?
Resources:
- The Reason For Sports: A Christian Fanifesto - Ted Kluck
In this bonus episode, Lead Pastor Jon Vallier shares how God has been at work at Lakeside Alliance Church, the church Alliance Bible Church planted in January 2024 in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Over the past 18 months, they've seen the power of the gospel impact individual lives, families, and the community. Listen in for some amazing stories of what God is doing in and through LAC!
Resources:
- Lakeside Alliance Church website
On the surface, it's not all that apparent what biblical counseling is. It will have a critical role to play at Alliance Bible Church for years to come so clarity is vital.
Resources:
- https://biblicalcounseling.com/
- https://myabc.church/counseling
There is so much confusion about biblical prophecy. Stating bluntly, many people don't know how to read and interpret it correctly. This short episode will provide introductory exposure to how the Scriptures themselves use prophecy.
The commonalities and differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism will likely be equally surprising to those not well-versed in what each believes. While this episode won't hit every detail, it's a good starting point to make some necessary distinctions.
Resources:
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- 40 Questions About Roman Catholicism - Gregg Allison
- Talking with Catholics About the Gospel: A Guide for Evangelicals - Chris Castaldo
There has been no shortage of "deconstruction" or "deconversion" stories to be found on the internet. While the words associated with it may sound new, the phenomenon has been around for centuries.
Resources:
- The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond - Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett
Prayer is something Christians mention often, yet it remains mysterious. We tell ourselves we need to pray more, but what exactly is it and how are we supposed to do it?
Resources:
- Praying the Bible - Donald S. Whitney
Another buzzword within popular culture today is "Christian Nationalism." What is it? What are its chief tenets? Tune in to this episode for an introductory answer to a growing question.
Resources:
- Church Matters: A New Christian Authoritarianism?: Christian Nationalism, Theonomy, and Magisterial Protestantism - Jonathan Leeman
Many of you have probably seen commercials on television that have the theme, "He Gets Us." They are intended to introduce the television viewer to Jesus. What is their message? Is it sound? Let's dive in and assess it.
Resources:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV3AnTUPiDY
Big Foot. Lochness. Area 51. "Conspiracy Theories" are all the rage today. How do we process these sorts of things from a Christian perspective?
Over the summer a number of questions came in that pertained to politics and voting. This is not only a controversial topic, it's also complicated. This episode will provide six reflections for Christians to consider as they develop a political theology.
Resources:
- Give Honor and Vote? A Reflection on the Christian's Voting Conscience - Robert Golding
- Liberty for All: Defending Everyone's Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age - Andrew T. Walker
- Policy is Character, Too - Andrew T. Walker
(Originally Published on August 15, 2021)
Critical Race Theory (CRT) has received quite a bit of attention over the recent months. CRT fits under the broader umbrella of Critical Theory (CT), which has a rich and lengthy history. This episode will seek to trace the genealogy of this much talked about ideology.
(Originally Published on September 15, 2021)
Critical Theory has "doctrine" to it; fundamental tenets that shape the ideology. This episode will explore its doctrine and offer a biblical response to it.
Resources:
- https://shenviapologetics.com/
- Confronting Justice without Compromising Truth - Thaddeus Williams
- Live Not By Lies - Rod Dreher
(Originally Published on March 15, 2023)
Pastors are not political pundits nor do most desire to enter the overcrowded fray of political punditry. But religion and politics may not occupy totally separate quadrants of life as some may contend. Might it be the Scriptures offer some direction for a Christian's involvement in the political world?
Resources:
- Political Church - Jonathan Leeman
Artificial Intelligence is all the rage these days. Some people are excited about it. Others are suspicious. Can it be useful to the global church? In this episode Dr. Don Barger surveys the role AI is having in Bible translation.
Resources:
- https://missional.ai/
In vitro fertilization has been in the news lately. It could be argued it's a subject the church fell asleep on. So, as Christians, how shall we think about this?
Resources:
- https://www.str.org/
- https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/ivf-created-embryos/
The last time we did a bonus episode of The Brian Dainsberg Podcast, Lakeside Alliance Church was preparing to launch. As of January 2024, LAC has officially started gathering as a new church. This episode will discuss the ground that's been covered so far and the exciting happenings still to come.
Resources:
- Lakeside Alliance Church website
Critical theory. Cancel culture. Abortion. Racism. Transgenderism. Politics. All these subjects have been addressed in the Brian Dainsberg Podcast. This episode builds on February's episode by providing a starting point for evaluating ideas such as these that may come our way. Consider this a crash course in seeing the world through the lens of Scripture.
Critical theory. Cancel culture. Abortion. Racism. Transgenderism. Politics. All these subjects have been addressed in the Brian Dainsberg Podcast. This episode will provide a starting point for evaluating ideas such as these that may come our way. Consider this a crash course in seeing the world through the lens of Scripture.
Can you be an intelligent scientific thinker and still believe in God? Or has science "killed God?" There are limitations to science some people may not be aware of. This podcast will cover four of those.
Resources:
- The Reason for God - Tim Keller
- Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics - William Lane Craig
Dr. Favale is an author and professor at Notre Dame University. She has written a book entitled The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory which helps explain the historical and sociological currents that have generated the transgender craze.
Resources:
- The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory - Abigail Favale
Just five brief reflections on the unfathomable tragedies that took place in Israel on October 7, 2023, and what has ensued.
Of the 39 parables of Jesus recorded in the gospels, 11 of them are on the topic of money and possessions. Money is a frequently discussed topic in the Bible. This podcast delves into the subject of "money sickness." Do you have it? How is it cured?
Resources:
- Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions - Craig L. Blomberg
A new school year and church year are upon us and with that an uptick in the pace of the schedule. Though managing busyness is sometimes beyond our ability to control, there are some fundamentals that are worth remembering so we remain healthy in the midst of it.
Most know the general definition of "liberalism" within the political sphere. But there is also such a thing as "liberalism" within the theological sphere. What is it? Where did it come from? How does it operate today?
Resources:
- Christianity and Liberalism - J. Gresham Machen
This question has been debated for centuries. The answer isn't an easy one to arrive at. Feel like kicking a hornet's nest? Listen to this episode.
If Christians are to work for Christian conceptions of justice in the public square, how should we think about political candidates who may contribute to that, but are personally of flawed character?
Resources:
- Article: Give Honor and Vote? A Reflection on the Christian’s Voting Conscience and Romans 13:1–7 by Robert Golding
By the command of God, governments have a responsibility to establish a common morality, not a common religion. But how would people who don't subscribe to the Christian Scriptures, who don’t follow Jesus, determine what that morality should be? And what does this mean for a Christian's involvement in its government?
Resources:
- Liberty for All: Defending Everyone's Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age - Andrew T. Walker
- Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World - David VanDrunen
- Political Church: The Local Assembly as Embassy of Christ's Rule - Jonathan Leeman
The little known covenant God made with Noah is about more than not sending another flood. It contains God's expectations for the human race and the foundation for government's proper role within it.
Resources:
- Liberty for All: Defending Everyone's Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age - Andrew T. Walker
- Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World - David VanDrunen
- Political Church: The Local Assembly as Embassy of Christ's Rule - Jonathan Leeman
Easter of 2022 Alliance Bible Church announced the plans to start a new church: Lakeside Alliance Church. This episode will dive into some of the details pertaining to what has transpired over the past year as preparations continue to move forward.
Pastors are not political pundits nor do most desire to enter the overcrowded fray of political punditry. But religion and politics may not occupy totally separate quadrants of life as some may contend. Might it be the Scriptures offer some direction for a Christian's involvement in the political world?
Resources:
- Political Church - Jonathan Leeman
The invention of the modern day smartphone is as seismic as the invention of the printing press, the discovery of electricity, and the development of the automobile. They aren't just tools. They change people - sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad.
Resources:
- 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You - Tony Reinke
- iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood--and What That Means for the Rest of Us - Jean Twenge
- The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place- Andy Crouch
"Where have all the workers gone?" This question has become a frequently repeated one. And it's a very important one. But showing up isn't enough. When you do show up, work hard! Put forth your best effort. Not because you're attempting to amass a materially affluent kingdom, but out of love for the customers, clients, and people your work serves.
Resources:
- Teach Them to Work: Building a Positive Work Ethic in Our Children - Mary Beeke
- Grace at Work: Redeeming the Grind and the Glory of Your Job - Bryan Chapell
Here are the five best books I read this past year. Happy shopping! Happy reading!
Resources:
- What About Evil?: A Defense of God’s Sovereign Glory - Scott Christensen
- Confessions of a French Atheist: How God Hijacked My Quest to Disprove the Christian Faith - Guillaume Bignon
- Liberty for All: Defending Everyone’s Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age - Andrew T. Walker
- God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible - Vaughan Roberts
- None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God - Matthew Barrett
The conversations and debates that preceded the American Revolution were frequent and spirited. The colonial clergy were active participants in it. But according to Dr. Gary Steward, they have been misunderstood. Were these ministers co-opted by secular thinking? Or did they remain faithful to their theological heritage in advocating for political resistance?
Resources:
- "Justifying Revolution: The American Clergy's Argument for Political Resistance, 1750-1776" - Gary L. Steward
Work doesn't always involve receiving a W-2 or 1099 tax form. Not all work is compensated. But work makes up much of our lives whether it's in the office, on the construction site, or at home with kids, dishes, dirty floors or weedy gardens. God has spoken to this important aspect of our lives.
Resources:
- "Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work" - Tom Nelson
Are human beings culpable for sins their ancestors committed? Within the critical theory ecosystem is the notion of ancestral guilt which answers this question in the affirmative. How does this stand up to the scrutiny of Scripture?
Resources:
- https://shenviapologetics.com/
Most historians are quick to acknowledge the historical credibility of the works of Herodotus or Thucydides or Julius Caesar's invasion of Gaul. How does the Bible's reliability stack up against these? The evidence is overwhelming: the Bible is the most well-attested ancient document we have.
Resources:
- "Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World" - Josh McDowell & Sean McDowell, PhD
- "The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?" - F. F. Bruce
COVID was a challenging season for all of us. There was no easy way through it. Pastors Brian Dainsberg, Jon Vallier, and Dwayne Sommersell discuss some lessons learned through this incredibly unique time.
Attending church is a spiritually charged activity. More so than we realize. But it's often treated as a hobby. "I'll get to it when I can" is the adopted approach. As always, we'll search God's Word to provide us with clarity on this basic, but often misunderstood topic.
Alliance Bible Church is expecting and we're due to give birth to Lakeside Alliance Church in the fall of 2023. This bonus episode will provide some of the answers to the questions many are asking including: Why plant a church? Why plant in this particular area? And who will be leading the charge to make it happen?
I've been a Christian for a long time, but there are four particular aspects to Christianity that I have found incredibly compelling. Join me for a personal podcast that details why following Jesus has become so important to me.
Abortion is an emotional topic. It's a controversial topic. But is it complicated? Not really. It all boils down to one question: what is the unborn?
Resources:
- "The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture" - Scott Klusendorf
What is a man? What is a woman? It may seem strange, but those questions have become difficult to answer in the gender jungle. What's happening? Why is it happening? This episode will wrestle with those complexities.
Resources:
- "Gender Ideology: What Do Christians Need to Know?" - Sharon James
- "God and the Transgender Debate" - Andrew T. Walker
Interest in socialism waxes and wanes like a teenage infatuation. "He loves me. He loves me not." This episode will extract five reasons we all should be wary of this idea that never seems to go away.
Resources:
- "Socialism: The Failed Idea That Never Dies" - Kristian Niemietz
Satisfying personal desires has become the definition of the "good life." Follow this notion far enough and it leads to distorted definitions that end in moral chaos. If you want to understand cancel culture, you've got to start here. This episode will explain five outcomes of this approach to life and offer biblical correctives to each one.
Resources:
- "The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution" - Carl R. Trueman
- "Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution" - Carl R. Trueman
Satisfying personal desires has become the definition of the "good life." Follow this notion far enough and it leads to distorted definitions that end in moral chaos. If you want to understand cancel culture, you've got to start here.
Resources:
- "The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution" - Carl R. Trueman
"Racism." "Racial reconciliation." "Systemic injustice." These are terms heard often today, but definitions often remain vague. In this episode, Pastor Dwayne Sommersell and I will explore how the Bible defines and talks about these important matters.
Resources:
- "Slave of Christ: A New Testament Metaphor for Total Devotion to Christ" - Murray J. Harris
Critical Theory has "doctrine" to it; fundamental tenets that shape the ideology. This episode will explore its doctrine and offer a biblical response to it.
Resources:
- https://shenviapologetics.com/
- "Confronting Justice without Compromising Truth" - Thaddeus Williams
- "Live Not By Lies" - Rod Dreher
Critical Race Theory (CRT) has received quite a bit of attention over the recent months. CRT fits under the broader umbrella of Critical Theory (CT), which has a rich and lengthy history. This episode will seek to trace the genealogy of this much talked about ideology.