Filter: Biblical Clarity in a Confusing World: Recent Episodes

Aaron Shamp

Our world can be confusing. Many of us are looking for clarity in how to think about the many topics and problems in our culture. In 'Filter,' Aaron Shamp engages the questions we all face in conversation with expert guests. This show provides you with biblical clarity for our confusing world so that you can face the chaos of life with wisdom, integrity, and courage.

In this episode of Filter, I am pleased to welcome Barry Rowan to discuss his new book The Spiritual Art of Business. Drawing from his forty years of experience in corporate leadership, Barry teaches us about pursuing value in our relationship with God and bringing that value to work. He shares wisdom that applies to all of our lives whether you are in business, education, ministry, and even at home. I must confess that this episode immediately became one of my favorites, and I know you’ll enjoy it too.

Barry Rowan is a Harvard Business School graduate who served his entire career in C-Suite roles. He has been instrumental in building and transforming eight businesses, primarily in the technology and communication space, with one selling for $10 billion. His leadership experience spans both private and public companies, including Gogo (the inflight connectivity company), Vonage, Nextel Partners, and Fluke Corporation.

Based on his belief in giving back, Barry serves on both for-profit and non-profit boards, mentors young leaders, and leads international study trips. His non-profit boards have included InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Seattle Pacific University, Gordon College, the Gonzaga University Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, and advisory boards for Harvard Business School. He also served as president of Bellevue Christian School.

Deeply immersed in Scripture and the classic spiritual writers, Barry is deeply committed to contemplation and prayer, leading him to complete a month-long silent retreat immediately following his retirement from a full-time executive career. His friends have dubbed him a “corporate mystic.”

Barry is married to Linda, his wife of over forty-two years, and they have two adult sons. Together they are now engaged in multiple lines of service including walking with the poor and investing in the next generation of leaders. Their commitment to the poor has taken them to Central America over twenty times. They are members of the National Leadership Council of World Vision and support local organizations breaking the poverty cycle through sustainable programs.

SHOW NOTES: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/barry-rowan

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Doug Groothuis returns to the show to share about his newest book World Religions in Seven Sentences. This book is an excellent introduction to studying world religions, as Doug takes a unique and accessible approach to a vast topic. In our conversation, we discussed atheism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity.

Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary, where he has served since 1993. He is the author or co-author of fourteen books, including the best-selling, Unmasking the New Age, the much-used apologetics textbook, Christian Apologetics, and introduction to philosophy, Philosophy in Seven Sentences, a memoir, Walking through Twilight, and a children’s book, I Love You to The Stars (with Crystal Bowman).

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/groothuis-world-religions

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Jason Thacker joins the show to discuss the growth of AI technologies. The widespread accessibility of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, raises theological and ethical questions that thoughtful Christians must address. We cover these topics and explore the influence of the advanced digital age.

Jason Thacker serves as an assistant professor of philosophy and ethics at Boyce College in Louisville, KY. He also is a research fellow in Christian ethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is the author of several books including Following Jesus in the Digital Age and The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity. He also serves as the editor of The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society and co-editor of the Essentials in Christian Ethics series with B&H Academic. He is the project leader and lead drafter of Artificial Intelligence: An Evangelical Statement of Principles, and his work has been featured at Slate, Politico, The Week, USA Today, Christianity Today, World Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and Desiring God.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/jason-thacker

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Brett McCracken joins the show to discuss great war movies you can watch to celebrate the Fourth of July. These movies are chosen for their quality of filmmaking, as well as for their themes of bravery, sacrifice, and more. We also discussed how Christians should think about movies and what it means to discern the worldviews embedded in the content.

Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communications at The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World, Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community, Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism and Liberty, and Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide. Brett and his wife, Kira, live in Santa Ana, California, with their three children. They belong to Southlands Church, and Brett serves as an elder. You can follow him on Twitter.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/brett-mccracken

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The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World

Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide

Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community

Gray Matters

I'm glad to welcome back Andy Bannister to discuss his new book How to Talk about Jesus without Looking like an Idiot.

Get the book here: https://a.co/d/19DYnEm

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Welcome back to this special two-part interview with Professor Nancy Pearcey to celebrate hitting 100 episodes here on Filter. If you missed part 1, I’d recommend going back to catch up. However, you’ll still get a lot out of part 2, even if you don’t. In this second segment, we continue our discussion on her latest book The Toxic War on Masculinity, exploring the roots of our cultural battle over masculinity, evaluating the voices and influences surrounding masculinity, and discussing how churches can better engage men.

Nancy Pearcey is the author of the upcoming book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her most recently published book is Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality. Her earlier books include The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."

Check out the full show notes for this episode.

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In this episode, I’ll be discussing a topic that is close to many of our hearts - waiting for answers to prayer. In life, we all face moments where we desperately need relief, comfort, or a sense of direction. We turn to God in prayer and ask for help, hoping that our prayers will be answered. However, waiting for those answers can be a challenging and often frustrating experience. It can test our patience, faith, and perseverance. In this episode, I will explore some of the reasons why we may have to wait for answers to our prayers and how practical steps for how to wait in prayer.Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/waiting-in-prayerSUPPORT THIS PODCAST: https://www.aaronshamp.com/support ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Track: Perseverance — Land of Fire [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library Plus––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/filterpodcast/message

I’m glad to welcome Shane Morris back to the podcast. In this episode, we discuss our culture’s confusion over gender and the crisis of masculinity. We talk about the difficulties of defining masculinity, and how Scripture can guide us in this project.Shane Morris is a senior writer at the Colson Center and host of the Upstream podcast, as well as co-host of the BreakPoint podcast. He has been a voice of the Colson Center since 2010 as coauthor of many BreakPoint commentaries and columns. He has also written for WORLD, The Federalist, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and Summit Ministries. He and his wife, Gabriela, live with their four children in Lakeland, Florida.Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/shane-morris-masculinitySUPPORT THIS PODCAST: https://www.aaronshamp.com/support ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Track: Perseverance — Land of Fire [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library Plus––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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On this episode, I am glad to welcome pastor and author Mike McKinley to discuss his newest book Friendship with God: A Path to Deeper Fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mike’s book presents a simple, practical guide to pursuing a stronger relationship with God. He does this by reflecting on the classic book Communion with God by John Owen and sharing those insights in an accessible way.Mike McKinley (MDiv, Westminster Theological Seminary) is the senior pastor of Sterling Park Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia. He is the author of a number of books, including Am I Really a Christian? and Church Planting Is for Wimps. He and his wife, Karen, have five children and live in Northern Virginia.Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/mike-mckinleySUPPORT THIS PODCAST: https://www.aaronshamp.com/support ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Track: Perseverance — Land of Fire [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library Plus––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming back historian and professor Glenn Sunshine, who specializes in the Reformation era and has authored several books on Christianity and culture. He's here to talk to us about his latest book, 32 Christians Who Changed Their World, which highlights the lives of lesser-known individuals who made a significant impact for the kingdom of God. From Vikings to queens to founding fathers, Glenn shares with us why he chose to focus on these individuals and what we can learn from their stories. This conversation was a blast and I am sure you will enjoy it.

Glenn Sunshine (Ph.D., Renaissance, and Reformation History) is a former professor of history at Central Connecticut State University, a ministry associate at Reflections Ministries, and a senior faculty member of the Colson Fellows. An award-winning author, Glenn has published books, articles, and book chapters on history, theology, and culture, online, and on both sides of the Atlantic. His book Why You Think the Way You Do: The Story of Western Worldviews from Rome to Home (Zondervan, 2009) received the 2006 Acton Institute Book Grant. Glenn has also taught courses on four continents.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/glenn-sunshine-32SUPPORT THIS PODCAST: https://www.aaronshamp.com/support ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Track: Perseverance — Land of Fire [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library Plus––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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In this episode, I’m glad to welcome Bill Myers, an award-winning author, filmmaker, and creator of the hit TV series McGee & Me. Bill shares his journey as a writer, from his early days of submitting scripts to television networks to his current book series, The Magnificent Mulligans.

We explore the genesis of McGee & Me, the beloved show that blended live-action with animation to teach kids about faith and morals. We also delve into Bill's thoughts on the state of modern media, from the lack of creativity to the need for discernment with what our children watch. He shares his views on the importance of creating meaningful content that engages audiences and inspires them to think deeply about the world around them. Whether you're a fan of Bill's work or simply interested in the art of storytelling, this episode is sure to provide plenty of insights and inspiration.

As author/producer Myers’ work has sold over 8 million books and videos and has won 80 national and international awards, including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His latest adult novels include Eli and the Rendezvous with God series. His children's projects include the McGee and Me book/video series (aired on ABC and BBC), The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle (2.2 million copies and going strong), writer/director of episodes for Adventures in Odyssey, and author of his current book series, The Magnificent Mulligans. When he is not writing and running his film production company, he teaches a class on discipleship at a local High School.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/bill-myersSUPPORT THIS PODCAST: https://www.aaronshamp.com/support ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Track: Perseverance — Land of Fire [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library Plus

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I’m thrilled to have Melissa Cain Travis as our guest on today’s episode. Melissa's work explores how science and faith can intersect, and how this intersection can lead to a deeper understanding of both. In today's episode, we will be discussing the life and work of Johannes Kepler, and how his faith influenced his scientific discoveries. We'll also be exploring the ways in which science and faith can converge, and how this convergence can deepen our understanding of the world around us.

Melissa Cain Travis is a philosopher and Great Books scholar with a special interest in the intersection of science and Christianity in the Western tradition. She is the author of Thinking God’s Thoughts: Johannes Kepler and the Miracle of Cosmic Comprehensibility (2022), Science and the Mind of the Maker: What the Conversation Between Faith and Science Reveals About God (2018), and a contributing author for The Story of the Cosmos: How the Heavens Declare the Glory of God (2019). She is a Fellow of the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, and a member of the core writing team for The Worldview Bulletin and the Contributing Writers team at Christian Research Institute. She regularly lectures at conferences, seminaries, and churches around the country.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/melissa-cain-travis

Get a copy of "Thinking God's Thoughts" here: https://a.co/d/e0LOMe6

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The Story of the Cosmos: How the Heavens Declare the Glory of God

Science and the Mind of the Maker: What the Conversation Between Faith and Science Reveals About God

The real story of Saint Patrick is a fascinating tale of the gospel’s power and a missionary’s faithfulness. Sadly, many people today don’t know anything more about St. Patrick than shamrocks and green beer. I’m glad to welcome Ned Bustard to the podcast to discuss his new book Saint Patrick the Forgiver and what we can learn from the real story.

Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, a children's book illustrator, an author, and a printmaker. As the creative director for Square Halo Books, Inc. and curator of the Square Halo Gallery, Ned has lectured at colleges, schools, churches, and conferences. His work is found in numerous titles including Saint Nicholas the Giftgiver, The O in Hope, Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups, and Every Moment Holy. He lives with his family in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/ned-bustard

Get a copy of "Saint Patrick the Forgiver" here: https://a.co/d/bm1PUoe

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Os Guinness returns to the show to share about his newest book Signals of Transcendence. We discussed the idea of a signal of transcendence and look at the lives of several notable figures to see how the signals played a role in their conversion. Os tells us about the stories of C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, W. H. Auden, and others. We also talked about what the signals mean and how to recognize them in your life.

Os Guinness (DPhil, Oxford) is the author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Dust of Death, The Call, Fool's Talk, and The Magna Carta of Humanity. A frequent speaker and prominent social critic, he has addressed audiences worldwide from the British House of Commons to the U.S. Congress to the St. Petersburg Parliament. He is a senior fellow at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and was the founder of the Trinity Forum.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/os-guinness-signals

Get a copy of Signals of Transcendence here: https://a.co/d/j0apcs6

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In June of 2022, we saw the momentous Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Abortion has been a hotly contested issue ever since the Roe decision, but many people don’t realize that there is a history of abortion that goes beyond 1973. On this episode of Filter I am glad to welcome Leah Savas to discuss this history from her recent book co-authored with Marvin Olasky titled The Story of Abortion in America.

Leah Savas reports on abortion for WORLD News Group, where she writes the weekly Vitals roundup and newsletter of pro-life news. She is the co-author of The Story of Abortion in America. Leah lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, Stephen.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/leah-savas

Get a copy of "The Story of Abortion in America" here: https://a.co/d/fqHfako

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I’m excited to welcome Timothy Pickavance to the show. We discussed his new book Knowledge for the Love of God. We talked about the meaning of faith and why it is not contrary to knowledge. Tim also shows us how knowledge is necessary for the Christian life and growing in our relationship with God.

Timothy Pickavance is associate professor and chair of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, and scholar in residence at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Newport Beach, California, where he is also a ruling elder. He is the coauthor, with Robert C. Koons, of both Metaphysics: The Fundamentals and The Atlas of Reality: A Comprehensive Guide to Metaphysics.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/timothy-pickavance

Get a copy of Knowledge for the Love of God here: https://a.co/d/2b4HCD4

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In Mark 11:22-24 Jesus said, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” This passage speaks to an uncommon faith that leads to great prayer. I have often wrestled with these verses, as it challenges my own weakness in prayer. What does it mean to have faith in God in prayer as Jesus speaks of here?

Today’s episode is a recent sermon that I preached that attempts to answer this question. I explain what faith in prayer does not mean and how verses such as these have been misused by false teachers. After we look at the negative examples, I defined what it means to have faith in God in prayer. I also share how you can grow in your faith in prayer. My study and preparation for this message have been incredibly beneficial to my prayer life and I hope it is to yours as well.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/faith-in-prayer

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In John 3, Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to enter the Kingdom of God one must be born of water and of the Spirit. Later in the book of Acts, we read about Christians being baptized and receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Baptism in the Spirit is a theological topic many believers are unaware of or unclear on. Depending on your church background, the issue might be accompanied by baggage from bad teaching. My guest on today’s show is here to help us have clarity and understanding on this conversation. His name is Joe Miller and we discussed his latest book One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism: Spirit Baptism and Christian Unity.

J. R. Miller (PhD; DMin) is Assistant Professor of Christian Worldview & Worldview Lead at Grand Canyon University. Dr. Miller co-founded The Center for Cultural Apologetics and served on the Academic Advisory Council for the Center for Biblical Unity. He is also an avid podcaster and blogger at MoreThanCake.org. Joe and his wife Suzanne enjoy life with their three sons in Phoenix, AZ.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/joe-miller

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On today’s episode, I’m glad to welcome Paul Gould. Paul and I discussed his latest book A Good and True Story: Eleven Clues to Understanding Our Universe and Your Place In It. He shares with us how we all inhabit a story and that within the story we inhabit there are signs that point us to the meaning of our story. Paul walks us through the implications of the various stories we might believe about our lives and the signs that point us to the good and true story.

Paul M. Gould (PhD, Purdue University) is associate professor of philosophy and director of the philosophy of religion master's program at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the founder and president of the Two Tasks Institute, an apologetics institute and podcast, and is on the faculty of Summit Ministries and the Colson Center Fellows Program. Gould is the author of eleven books, including The Story of the Cosmos and the award-winning Cultural Apologetics. He is also the co-author of Philosophy: A Christion Introduction and Stand Firm: Apologetics and the Brilliance of the Gospel. Gould is a popular guest on national radio programs and podcasts as well as a sought-after speaker on apologetics and philosophy.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/paul-gould

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Every Christian should endeavor to be the best steward of his life that he can be. We ought to honor God with our souls, worship, possessions, and our body. Stewardship of our body includes not just resisting sinful temptations but also treating it well with healthy habits. I’ve discovered that one of the best ways to learn about caring for our bodies well is by learning it from the people who do it the best. That’s why I’m glad to welcome Brandon Luckett to the show to discuss fitness, health, and how caring for our bodies aids our walk with God.

Brandon Luckett is a medical physicist and CrossFit athlete. He has been a competitive CrossFitter for nearly ten years and has competed in the CrossFit Games three times. He also helps others in their fitness journey through the EMOM Company, a training plan that offers effective workouts for those short on time.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/brandon-luckett

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How should Christians understand and apply the Old Testament law? Many Christians are bewildered by the law sections of the Old Testament and sadly tend to ignore them. My guest on today’s show wants to help us to understand the law and its applications to us today. His name is Richard E. Averbeck and we discussed his new book The Old Testament Law for the Life of the Church: Reading the Torah in the Light of Christ.

Richard E. Averbeck (Ph.D., Annenberg Research Institute, Dropsie College) is an Old Testament and Semitic languages professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the co-editor of "An Excellent Fortress for His Armies, a Refuge for the People" and the author of many journal articles and reference works.

Get 30% off "The Old Testament Law for the Life of the Church" at IVP with code FILTER. See the link in the show notes.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/richard-averbeck

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In the summer of 2020, we saw chaos, riots, and violence on American streets. The fire in the streets was paired with the message that Western culture is fundamentally divided into “oppressed” and “oppressor.” Ever since, we have been hearing leaders in government, media, medicine, higher education, and even the church tell us how we ought to right these wrongs through radical programs of antiracism, gender theory, and equity.

Dr. Groothuis’s latest book Fire In The Streets is his response to these ideologies. What can we do amidst all the controversies over race and gender in society today? Do we have anything constructive to offer the world? As Jesus’ followers, we do, and this book shows the way.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and do a live interview with Dr. Douglas Groothuis on his latest book Fire In The Streets. We had a great conversation covering a wide range of topics including conservatism, Marxism, critical race theory, Christian political engagement, and more.

Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary, where he has served since 1993. He is the author or co-author of fourteen books, including the best-selling, Unmasking the New Age, the much-used apologetics textbook, Christian Apologetics, and introduction to philosophy, Philosophy in Seven Sentences, a memoir, Walking through Twilight, and a children’s book, I Love You to The Stars (with Crystal Bowman).

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/doug-groothuis

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For decades, Christians in China have been oppressed the persecuted by a communist state. In spite of this opposition, the underground church there has continued to grow and thrive. We frequently hear the stories of their persecutions and courage, but it is a rare privilege to get to learn from the leaders of the Chinese church. That’s why I am so excited about a new book called Faithful Disobedience and the opportunity to talk with the editor of this new book Hannah Nation. In this conversation, we learn about some of the leaders of the Chinese house church movement and what they believe.

Hannah Nation is the managing director of the Center for House Church Theology. A writer and student of missions history and World Christianity, she is inspired by this historical moment and the privilege of witnessing a new chapter in church history unfold across China.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/hannah-nation

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For many people, their job merely feels like a daily grind. But what if our vocations are a primary means of experiencing God’s purpose in our lives? On today’s show, I welcome Bryan Chapell to discuss his new book Grace at Work. We talk about how work is a vital way that we fulfill God’s purpose for us, as well as show his grace to those around us. Bryan shows us how we bear God’s image in our work and express the kingdom.

Bryan Chapell is a bestselling author of many books, including Christ-Centered Preaching and Holiness by Grace. He is pastor emeritus of the historic Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois; president emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary; and president of Unlimited Grace Media (unlimitedgrace.com), which broadcasts daily messages of gospel hope in many nations.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/bryan-chapell

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We have recently seen a number of once-prominent Christian leaders—as well as a number of believers online—announce that they are “deconstructing” their faith. Sadly, this deconstruction is often succeeded by a de-conversion. They embrace the position that orthodox, biblical Christianity is outdated, boring, or repressive. My guest on today’s show argues against the deconstructionist position and those who would substitute historic, biblical orthodoxy for modern heresy. His name is Trevin Wax and we discussed his latest book The Thrill of Orthodoxy.

Trevin Wax is vice president of research and resource development at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. A former missionary to Romania, Trevin is a regular columnist at The Gospel Coalition and has contributed to The Washington Post, Religion News Service, World, and Christianity Today, which named him one of 33 millennials shaping the next generation of evangelicals. He has served as general editor of The Gospel Project and has taught courses on mission and ministry at Wheaton College. He is the author of multiple books, including The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Rethink Your Self, This Is Our Time, and Gospel Centered Teaching.

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Os Guinness returns to the show to discuss his latest book Zero Hour America: History's Ultimatum over Freedom and the Answer We Must Give. We discussed the crisis of freedom in Western society, the nature of freedom, and what freedom requires.

Os Guinness (DPhil, Oxford) is the author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Dust of Death, The Call, Fool's Talk, and The Magna Carta of Humanity. A frequent speaker and prominent social critic, he has addressed audiences worldwide from the British House of Commons to the U.S. Congress to the St. Petersburg Parliament. He is a senior fellow at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and was the founder of the Trinity Forum.

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The calling of parenthood is to raise our children in the fear of the Lord. Yet, as all Christian parents know, this calling is easily lost in the chaos of life. We are juggling the various responsibilities of our households and the shifting challenges of raising our kids. In the midst of all this, how are we to teach our children to love God? My guest on today’s show is Sarah Cowan Johnson, the author of Teach Your Children Well, and she helps us to accept the calling of parenthood with wisdom and faith.

Sarah Cowan Johnson is a ministry trainer, consultant, and coach who works with church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders across the United States. She leads seminars for parents on family discipleship to help their children walk in the way of Jesus. She served with the Evangelical Covenant Church as the executive pastor for Sanctuary Church in Providence, Rhode Island, and previously was a staff trainer and an area director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She is the cohost of The People of the Way podcast. She and her husband have two sons and live in Providence.

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Doubt is an experience in every person’s life—including the life of Christians. Yet, many of us are unwilling to acknowledge our doubts, or we are afraid of seeking help for our doubts because we fear that it reflects poorly on our faith. Therefore, too many believers will suppress their doubts with denial or eventually surrender to them in hopelessness. My guest on today’s show argues that doubt is not necessarily bad. He says that it is a common experience to us all and that if we lean into it, then we might actually find our faith strengthened on the other side of doubt. His name is Travis Dickinson and we discussed his latest book Wandering Towards God: Finding Faith Amid Doubts and Big Questions.

Travis Dickinson (Ph.D., University of Iowa) is a professor of philosophy at Dallas Baptist University. He has taught philosophy and Christian apologetics courses for over twenty years and has done apologetics and evangelism in more than thirty-five countries. He lives with his family in Fort Worth, Texas.

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In Francis Schaeffer’s classic book Art and the Bible he wrote, “Is the creative part of our life committed to Christ? Christ is the Lord of our whole life and the Christian life should produce not only truth—flaming truth—but also beauty.” He argued that art is important to the Christian life because it is a work of creativity and God is the Creator. Moreover, since man is created in the image of God, he has the capacity to create, and that makes his works of art meaningful. My guest on today’s show argues that we ought to take the works of art in film seriously and view them as opportunities to experience our Creator. His name is Richard Goodwin and we discussed his new book Seeing Is Believing.

Richard Vance Goodwin (Ph.D., University of Otago) is a film expert and adjunct assistant professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary.

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How does God view me in my sins and sufferings? We often ask ourselves this question. We wonder if he pulls away from us because of our sinfulness. Our hearts doubt that he could desire someone who is as spiritually broken as we are.

In this episode, I share a teaching from one of my favorite passages in Scripture. The story of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9 shows us how God views the spiritually crippled. We learn how God sees us in our sins and sufferings, as well as his invitation to us.

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Suffering causes us to ask hard questions about life. It also tests our faith as we question God’s goodness, or even existence, in the reality of a deeply broken world. One of the most important factors in how we handle suffering is the story that we believe about the world and ourselves. The story we believe will determine the answers to those hard questions. My guest on today’s show argues for the Christian worldview as the story we need in order to understand the condition of life and to live well in the face of suffering. I’m glad to welcome back Mark Talbot to discuss the second volume in his series Suffering and the Christian Life titled Give Me Understanding that I May Live: Situating Our Suffering within God’s Redemptive Plan.

Mark Talbot grew up in the Seattle area. When he was seventeen, he fell off a Tarzan-like rope swing and suffered a paralyzing accident that left him partially paraplegic. After graduating from Seattle Pacific College with a B. A. in English Literature, he completed his Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. He began his teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College in 1987 and then moved to Wheaton College in 1992, where he teaches courses on suffering, philosophical theology, philosophical psychology, David Hume, and Jonathan Edwards.

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PRODUCER'S NOTE: Due to technical problems with recording this episode, we had to utilize the internet backup files. The conversation isn't affected, but the audio and video quality is lower than usual. Apologies!

Can I be a woman born in a man’s body? Is it possible that God could have made a mistake when he made me? Is the idea of gender merely a social construct that I should reject in order to be my authentic self? These questions are the kind of thoughts that many teenagers and young adults in our culture are considering. Many people find it shocking to discover that those who identify as LGBTQ+ are on a sharp increase in Gen Z. Discerning Christian ask why, how can we respond, and what do we do to protect our children from gender confusion. My guest on today’s show is Sarah Zylstra, a writer at The Gospel Coalition, who has done excellent work investigating this topic to answer these questions.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra is a senior writer and faith-and-work editor for The Gospel Coalition. She is also the co-author of Gospelbound: Living with Resolute Hope in an Anxious Age and editor of Social Sanity in an Insta World. Before that, she wrote for Christianity Today, homeschooled her children, freelanced for a local daily paper, and taught at Trinity Christian College. She earned a BA in English and communication from Dordt University and an MSJ from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She lives with her husband and two sons in the suburbs of Chicago, where they are active members of Orland Park Christian Reformed Church.

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Do you find yourself distracted lately? We live in a culture that has trained us to expect constant entertainment, endless content, and no effort to achieve contentment. These expectations have been made possible by the dominance of digital media in our lives. Jay Kim returns to this episode to argue that we need the wisdom of the biblical worldview to discern the tech’s promises and break free from our digital slavery, as we discussed his newest book Analog Christian.

Jay Y. Kim serves as lead pastor for teaching at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley of CA. He's the author of Analog Church and Analog Christian. His written work has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, Relevant, and Outreach. He lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two young kids.

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Masculinity is a hot topic today in our swirling debates about gender and sexuality. Both in the church and the broader culture, people argue over the fundamental differences, roles, and definitions of masculinity and femininity. My guest on today’s show has an approach to considering the nature of masculinity that doesn’t rely on cultural stereotypes but instead looks at the motivating heart of a man. His name is Chase Replogle and we discussed his new book The 5 Masculine Instincts.

Chase Replogle is the pastor of Bent Oak Church in Springfield, Missouri. He holds a degree in Biblical Studies and an M.A. in New Testament from The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Chase is the author of The 5 Masculine Instincts. His work has been featured on Good Morning America, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Ekstasis, Bible Engagement Project, and Influence Magazine. In addition, he hosts the Pastor Writer Podcast (pastorwriter.com), where he interviews Christian authors on writing and publishing. A native of the Ozark woods, he enjoys being outdoors with his wife and two kids, sailing, playing the guitar (badly), and quail hunting with his bird dog Millie.

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The Christian faith will always have opponents, skeptics, and seekers who will attempt to challenge its credibility, which is why apologetics is always a necessity. Moreover, we need apologists because there are a wide diversity of intellectual challenges and personalities which must be engaged when defending the faith. On today’s show, my guest is a Christian apologist with a new book that provides a unique approach to presenting Christianity to the skeptic. His name is Neil Shenvi and we discussed his book Why Believe? A Reasoned Approach to Christianity.

Neil Shenvi (Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley) has worked as a research scientist at Yale University and Duke University and has published over thirty peer-reviewed papers. He is a regular blogger at Shenvi Apologetics writing on current issues and book reviews. He is married to Christina and currently homeschools their four children.

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As Christians, we believe that every person in a relationship with God has a calling from God. We read this in passages such as Ephesians 2:8-10 where Paul tells us, “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift

— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” We live out these callings and good works that God has called us to in every day of our lives. Whether you are an employee, entrepreneur, homemaker, or missionary, you must discover how God has called you in your time and place. My guest on today’s show wants to help us discover our calling and follow it faithfully. His name is Gordon T. Smith and we discussed his newest book Your Calling Here and Now.

Gordon T. Smith (Ph.D., Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University) is the president of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Alberta, where he also serves as a professor of systematic and spiritual theology. He is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and a teaching fellow at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the author of many books, including Institutional Intelligence, Courage and Calling, Called to Be Saints, and Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal.

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When we go through times of difficulty, we often question God’s plans, promises, and disposition towards us. It’s easy to wonder what his purpose is for us when we are experiencing trials and suffering. There’s consolation in that when we read Scripture, we see many examples of God’s people going through such times and asking similar questions. I recently preached a sermon at our church on God’s message to the Jews in exile who were contemplating similar questions. In Jeremiah 29, God speaks directly to his suffering children and tells them what his purpose is for them in their trials. No matter what kind of difficulty you experience in your life, this letter is incredibly relevant to us too.

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One of the biblical themes that we read about God’s people is that we are sojourners. This means that we are resident aliens. We reside somewhere that we do not ultimately belong. In other words, where we live now is not our true home. As sojourners in this world, there are many ways that we can experience the otherness and difficulty of not belonging to it. The Christian Worldview helps us to understand how we are different from our surrounding culture and teaches us the truth. I’m excited to have a guest who’s an excellent Christian worldview guide in our confusing culture. His name is Shane Morris and we discussed a wide range of topics.

Shane and I began our discussion by talking about being fathers of young families and how a Christian value of the family sometimes puts you at odds with the values of our culture. We then discussed how technology influences us and how the church should respond. Finally, we talked about how the driving presuppositions of our culture are opposed to what the Bible teaches us about ourselves and life.

Shane Morris is a senior writer at Colson Center, where he has been the resident Calvinist and millennial, home-school grad since 2010 as an intern under Chuck Colson. He writes BreakPoint commentaries and columns. Shane has also written for The Federalist, The Christian Post, and Summit Ministries, and he blogs regularly for Patheos Evangelical as Troubler of Israel. Shane is fascinated by the natural world, which he explores whenever possible in SCUBA gear. Shane graduated from Thomas Edison State College with a degree in humanities. He lives with his wife, Gabriela, and their four children in Tampa, Florida.

Check out Shane's podcast Upstream with Shane Morris.

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They say that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. What about those who misunderstand or distort the past? It’s not only important that we know history but that we get history right. As Christians, history is another segment of life that we can approach and understand from the biblical worldview to gain a proper view. I’m glad to welcome on the show Vern Poythress to discuss his newest book Redeeming Our Thinking About History: A God-Centered Approach.

Vern S. Poythress (PhD, Harvard University; ThD, University of Stellenbosch) is Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Biblical Interpretation, and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he has taught for four decades. In addition to earning six academic degrees, he is the author of numerous books and articles on biblical interpretation, language, and science.

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Being a Christian means more than adopting a set of beliefs. To be a Christian is to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ and to be transformed by the Holy Spirit through that relationship. We call this discipleship. It should be the core part of every believer’s identity. Sadly, we often have murky definitions or misguided ideas about what exactly discipleship means. That’s why I’m glad to welcome Jonathan Dodson back to the show to discuss his book Gospel-Centered Discipleship.

Jonathan and I discussed what discipleship means and how we tend to get it wrong in the church. He helps us to understand how discipleship involves our minds and our hearts, as well as how we can get down to the heart. Lastly, Jonathan explains what this kind of discipleship looks like in practice.

Jonathan Dodson (M. DIV, TH. M) is the founding pastor of City Life Church in Austin, TX which he started with his wife, Robie, and a small group of people. They have three wonderful children.

He is also the founder of Gospel-Centered Discipleship.com, which produces resources to help make, mature, and multiply disciples of Jesus. He is the author of a number of books including Here in Spirit: Knowing the Spirit who Creates, Sustains, and Transforms Everything, The Unbelievable Gospel: Say Something Worth Believing, and Our Good Crisis.

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Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia rank as many peoples’ favorite epic tales. These fantasy classics have stirred the imaginations and inspired good action in millions of people around the world. As such powerful stories, they are evident examples of how stories play a role in our virtue formation. I’m glad to welcome Louis Markos back to the show to help us to understand the virtue-forming power of stories and how these books inspire such virtue through discussing his book On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue in Tolkien and Lewis.

Louis and I begin our discussion by talking about the shaping experiences of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and why they are so influential today. He then explains why stories play such an important element in our lives. We finish off by examining the archetypes and classical virtues one can learn through the Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia.

Louis Markos (Ph.D., University of Michigan) is a professor of English and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University. He is the author of many books, including Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes, Ancient Voices: An Insider's Look at Classical Greece, From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics, Atheism on Trial: Refuting the Modern Arguments Against God, and Restoring Beauty: The Good, the True, and the Beautiful in the Writings of C. S. Lewis.

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On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis

You've probably noticed the rising prices in the cost of living this year. Everyone is feeling the squeeze on pocketbooks as everyday essentials are becoming more and more expensive due to inflation. I'll be the first to admit a lack of knowledge in economics and the factors that drive inflation. That's why I'm glad to welcome Tho Bishop to the show today.

Tho and I discussed a lot in this conversation. We began by talking about Ludwig von Mises and the Austrian school of economics. Tho then explain the bad monetary policies and history that have led to the economic woes we're facing now. We finished by talking about Tho's recent spiritual journey to Christianity and what he's learned.

Tho Bishop is an assistant editor for the Mises Wire. Prior to working for the Mises Institute, he served as Deputy Communications Director for the House Financial Services Committee. His articles have been featured in The Federalist, the Daily Caller, and Business Insider.

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We are faced with dozens of decisions in everyday life. On top of the mundane, daily decisions, we have large questions to answer and choices to make. These moments of decision-making can be some of the most challenging, yet rewarding times of our lives. My guest on today's show seeks to help you to think better about decision-making, what it means to seek God in our decision-making, and how to work a better process for our big decisions. Her name is Aimee Joseph and we discussed her new book Demystifying Decision-Making: A Practical Guide.

Aimee Joseph has spent many years directing women's discipleship and ministry at Redeemer Presbyterian Church and in Campus Outreach San Diego. She and her husband are currently in the process of planting Center City Church in their neighborhood.

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The challenges to the Christian faith must be answered in every age. Moreover, the specific problems and objections to Christianity are always changing with each new generation. In 1 Peter 3:15, the apostle admonished us to be prepared to give everyone an answer for the hope that is in us. So, the church needs to be equipped in the practice of apologetics—the defense of the faith.

That's why I'm excited to welcome Douglas Groothuis back to the podcast to discuss the new edition of his massive work Christian Apologetics. We discuss the work of apologetics, what's new in his book, and the unique challenges to the Christian worldview today.

Dr. Groothuis is a professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of several books. He just released the second edition of his magnum opus book Christian Apologetics. Dr. Groothuis is also the author of several other volumes including Philosophy in Seven Sentences, Truth Decay, and Unmasking the New Age. He is also a frequent contributor to both scholarly and popular publications.

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Scholar George Yancey is no stranger to this podcast and I am excited to feature him on the show again. We recently got to do a live Q&A at my church when George came to speak on Beyond Racial Division. I got to receive questions submitted from our congregation to ask him as well as share some of my own questions. We ended up covering a lot related to racial alienation, collaborative conversations, and even education. I think you will enjoy it. If you want to listen to the talk he gave before the Q&A, then click the link to the show notes below and you will find it there.

George Yancey is a scholar on race and religion in America. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Texas and began his carrier studying interracial relationships and multiethnic churches. Since 2019, he has been at Baylor University working on a joint appointment in Sociology and the Institute of Religious Studies. He's the author of several books including So Many Christians, So Few Lions, Beyond Racial Gridlock, and his newest title Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism.

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Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism

In the previous episode, I shared part one of a conference talk that I recently gave at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I attempt to address what is beneath our culture’s sickness and argue that the loss of a sense of purpose is a primary contributor. When we lose an objective basis for truth and purpose, then our world becomes meaningless and valueless.

This episode will continue in my talk on “The Problem of Purpose” and consider how Christianity can provide a solution to the problem. Remember, if you enjoy this content, I also have a new article out at Boundless on the same topic and you can find the link in the show notes.

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In the previous episode, I shared part one of a conference talk that I recently gave at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I attempt to address what is beneath our culture's sickness and argue that the loss of a sense of purpose is a primary contributor. When we lose an objective basis for truth and purpose, then our world becomes meaningless and valueless. This episode will continue in my talk on "The Problem of Purpose" and consider how Christianity can provide a solution to the problem. Remember, if you enjoy this content, I also have a new article out at Boundless on the same topic and you can find the link in the show notes.

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We live in a time of deep irony. On the one hand, we enjoy the healthiest, most affluent, and most secure society that has ever existed. On the other hand, in spite of these blessings, we have some of the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and unhappiness than at any other time. How do we account for our misery in spite of our decadence? While we might point to many factors, I argue that one of the most prominent is that people have lost a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.

I recently gave a conference talk at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary on this issue and how Christianity provides an answer for our culture’s sickness. In this episode, I’m excited to share part one of that conference session with you. If you enjoy it, I also have a new article out at Boundless on the same topic and you can find the link in the show notes.

Check out the full show notes for this episode: https://tinyurl.com/57bnzubu

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Here on Filter we regularly cover topics related to apologetics, philosophy, theology, history, and literature. However, there’s one aspect of life that’s particularly important to me which we’ve never covered—fitness. That’s why I’m excited to welcome today’s guest Jake Lockert. We talked about fitness can play an important role not only in your physical health but also in your spiritual health and character development.

Jake Lockert is a former CrossFit athlete and the Director of Online Programming for CrossFit Mayhem in Cookeville, TN. He is also a coach and physical therapist providing care for the athletes at CrossFit Mayhem. Jake is married and has two sons.

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When you’re looking for favorite writers online it can often be difficult to find ones that are really worth following. There are many voices that are simplistic, boring, or too reactionary in their thinking. One of my favorite writers to follow the past few years has been Bethel McGrew, who previously wrote under the pen name Esther O’Reilly. I’m excited to have her on today’s episode to talk about her story as a writer, her writing process, and other topics related to current events and culture.

Dr. Bethel McGrew is a math Ph.D., high school teacher, and widely published freelance writer. Her articles have appeared in many Christian and mainstream outlets, including First Things, The Spectator, National Review, Plough, and more. She has also contributed to two essay anthologies on the work of Jordan Peterson. She currently maintains a Patheos blog, Young Fogey, and a newsletter, Further Up, which is one of the top 20 faith newsletters on Substack.

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Over the last few weeks, the world watched as tensions increased between Russia and Ukraine. These tensions released into an all-out invasion by Russia that has brought about violence and terror in Ukraine. Leaders in the West are debating how to respond, and the media is bringing us rapid updates with varying degrees of veracity.

It’s easy to get caught up in this whirlwind of reporting, politics, and human suffering. Many of us have found it disorienting to navigate this situation both as citizens in a republic and as Christians. That’s why I’m glad to welcome William Wolfe as my guest on today’s show to help us by bringing some clarity to these current events and providing an example of a discerning response.

William had over a decade of experience working in the federal government. He was a legislative assistant for three different members of Congress, the Director of House Affairs for the U. S. Department of State, and finally as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for House Affairs at the Pentagon. He currently lives in Louisville, KY and is pursuing a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

For a young guy, William has an incredible story and you can read the whole bio in my full show notes.

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The national conversation on racial relations is more divided than at any time in the previous few decades. The central question is what approach should we use to handle racial incidents, divisions, and disparities. In the midst of reactionary positions, my guest on today’s show argues an approach that is founded in the Christian worldview, wisdom, as well as sociological research. His name is George Yancey and I’m excited to have him back on the show to discuss his newest book Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism.

George Yancey is a scholar on race and religion in America. He holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Texas and began his carrier studying interracial relationships and multiethnic churches. Since 2019, he has been at Baylor University working on a joint appointment in Sociology and the Institute of Religious Studies. He’s the author of several books including So Many Christians, So Few Lions, Beyond Racial Gridlock, and his forthcoming title Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism.

Get Beyond Racial Division here: https://amzn.to/3pnmehO

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Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism

C. S. Lewis was one of the most profound and influential Christian thinkers in the 20th Century. Both his fiction and non-fiction books continue to be bestsellers, and believers across the West still frequently credit him as one of their favorites. However, what made C. S. Lewis C. S. Lewis? What people and books shaped the mind of this legendary intellectual? My guest on today’s show argues that medieval literature played a primary role in forming Lewis’s mind. He helps us to see how they impacted Lewis and where we can see their influence in his writing.

His name is Jason Baxter and we discussed his new book The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis: How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind. Jason M. Baxter (Ph.D., University of Notre Dame) is associate professor of fine arts and humanities at Wyoming Catholic College. He is the author of several books including The Infinite Beauty of the World: Dante's Encyclopedia and the Names of God, and A Beginner’s Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy.

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The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis: How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind

We live in an age of deconstruction when the traditional ideas about truth, morality, and other foundational concepts are being rapidly abandoned. The deconstructionist project has no limits. Furthermore, it has no final solution for what will be built in the place of what was torn down. Therefore, people are inevitably driven to a life of emptiness and cynicism since they have no solid grounding to stand upon. My guest on today’s show argues that our culture must be challenged to live the “examined life,” a way of living that evaluates the worthiness of our culture’s dominant values and asks if there’s a better way to live.

I’m glad to welcome Os Guinness back to the podcast to discuss his latest book The Guest Quest: Invitation to an Examined Life and a Sure Path to Meaning. We discuss the problem of our culture’s deconstruction cynicism, how the attempts to live without meaning are futile, and how Christians can be confident in the gospel’s power.

Os Guinness (DPhil, Oxford) is the author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Dust of Death, The Call, Fool's Talk, and The Magna Carta of Humanity. A frequent speaker and prominent social critic, he has addressed audiences worldwide from the British House of Commons to the U.S. Congress to the St. Petersburg Parliament. He is a senior fellow at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and was the founder of the Trinity Forum.

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The question of miracles is a topic that evokes responses no matter where you bring it up. Among our broader culture, you might receive a sneer or a look of suspicion. Even in the church, some people will get excited and others will be cautiously hesitant when you bring up the miraculous and the potential to experience miracles. I’m excited to bring the esteemed philosopher J. P. Moreland back on the show to discuss his latest book A Simple Guide to Experience Miracles: Instruction and Inspiration for Living Supernaturally in Christ.

I must admit that J. P.’s work in this area has profoundly influenced me. He has helped me to be much more open to and desiring to see extraordinary works of the Spirit, and I think you will get a lot out of it too.

J. P. Moreland (Ph.D., University of Southern California) is a distinguished professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in La Mirada, California. He has written or contributed to over ninety-five books, including The God Conversation, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, In Search of a Confident Faith, and Love Your God With All Your Mind.

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In the previous episode, I shared the first half of my recent talk at the Defend Conference at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. If you haven’t heard that yet, then you might want to go back and catch up. In this episode, I continue from explaining the biblical virtue of courage to helping you learn how to grow in courage. We’ll consider the appropriate source of courage and learn some practical steps for building that virtue.

Remember, if you’d like to download my notes from that talk, I’m offering them to my podcast listeners for free! Visit the link to the show notes below to get that download.

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Christians in the West are living in what has been frequently called a “post-Christian society.” As the influence of Christianity continues to wane, Christian communities find that they are increasingly marginalized for holding to their biblical beliefs. We feel disoriented in an alien culture and are sometimes addressed with opposition from the world. These trends have no sign of slowing down. Therefore, it is as important as ever that Christians learn how to endure with difficulties and sufferings of life with courage.

In this episode, I’m sharing with you a talk that I recently gave at the Defend Conference at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The title of that session was “Into the Storm: Valiant Faith in Tumultuous Times.” In part one, you will learn about the necessity of courage in Christians today and about the meaning of courage. If you’d like to download my notes from that talk, I’m offering them to my podcast listeners for free! Go to the link to the show notes below to get that download.

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The success and survival of our American republic are never a guarantee. Our country is filled with tension over competing ideas, social movements, political divisions, and a crumbling trust in our institutions. My guest on today’s show argues that we need to take a look at the nature of democratic government in America and why the Founders designed it in such a way. He argues that they were fundamentally driven by a belief in the fallenness of man and how government should curtail that reality. His name is Robert Tracy McKenzie and we discussed his new book We the Fallen People: The Founders and the Future of American Democracy.

Robert Tracy McKenzie (Ph.D., Vanderbilt University) is Arthur F. Holmes Chair of Faith and Learning, and professor of history at Wheaton College. His books include Lincolnites and Rebels, A Little Book for New Historians, and The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History.

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All of human life is accompanied by pain and difficulty. Christians are frequently caught off guard by the suffering they experience. They are unprepared either due to bad assumptions about the gospel’s promises or by poor discipleship. Since everyone will face hardship in some form, it’s important that believers understand what the Bible has to say about suffering in the Christian life. My guest on today’s show is Dr. Mark Talbot and he has written an excellent book called When the Stars Disappear to help with this task.

Mark Talbot grew up in the Seattle area. When he was seventeen, he fell off a Tarzan-like rope swing and suffered a paralyzing accident that left him partially paraplegic. After graduating from Seattle Pacific College with a B. A. in English Literature, he completed his Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. He began his teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College in 1987 and then moved to Wheaton College in 1992, where he teaches courses on suffering, philosophical theology, philosophical psychology, David Hume, and Jonathan Edwards. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he served as the Vice-Chair of the Council for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals as well as the Executive Editor of Modern Reformation magazine. More recently, he has published When the Stars Disappear: Help and Hope from Stories of Suffering in Scripture, which is the first of four volumes on Suffering and the Christian Life. The second volume, Give Me Understanding that I May Live: Situating Our Suffering within God’s Redemptive Plan will be available in July of 2022. He has received the Leland Ryken Award for Teaching Excellence in the Humanities and is currently a Scholar for the Christian Scholars’ Fund. He and his wife, Cindy, have one grown daughter. They reside in Wheaton.

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There is a sad reality in our culture. We see high-profile leaders fall into scandal and moral failures all too often. Unfortunately, this kind of news is not exclusive to the world outside of the church. Pastors and other Christian leaders are frequently in the headlines as the new subject in an ongoing thread of compromised integrities and broken ministries. My guest on today’s show has written a book to try to help leaders from ending up in that storyline. His name is Michael MacKenzie and his book is titled Don’t Blow Up Your Ministry: Defuse the Underlying Issues That Take Pastors Down. Whether you are a ministry leader or you’re someone who cares about a ministry leader in your life, what Michael has to share is important for all of us.

Michael MacKenzie is a licensed professional counselor, ordained pastor, and hospital chaplain. He has served for ten years as the clinical director of Marble Retreat, a Colorado retreat center that specializes in ministering to pastors and ministry leaders in crisis. He studied marriage and family counseling at Denver Seminary and has a DMin in pastor care from Lincoln Christian University. Michael and his wife, Kari, have two sons and live in Florida.

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There’s a crisis in the West today—a crisis of happiness. Both sociological research and statistics such as the rise in the so-called “deaths of despair,” paint a picture of a society that is wrestling with a lack of satisfaction in spite of its decadence. This dilemma and its solution has been debated by scholars, psychologists, pundits and philosophers. My guest on today’s show says that the dilemma will not be solved unless we consider how Christianity offers a life of meaning. His name is J. P. Moreland and he wrote a book called The God Question on how Christianity invites us to “a full life, to an adventure, filled with meaning and drama.”

J. P. Moreland (PhD, University of Southern California) is distinguished professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in La Mirada, California. He has written or contributed to over ninety-five books, including The God Conversation, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, In Search of a Confident Faith, and Love Your God With All Your Mind.

Throughout his career Moreland has co-planted three churches, spoken and debated on over 200 college campuses around the country, and served with Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) for ten years. Moreland's ideas have been covered by both popular religious and non-religious outlets, including the New Scientist, Christianity Today, PBS's "Closer to Truth," and WORLD magazine. He was selected in August 2016 by The Best Schools as one of the 50 most influential living philosophers.

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Everyone knows what it’s like to be in a place where you struggle to see how things will play out well. It might be a mess that you got yourself into. Perhaps you are in a tough spot by no poor choices on your own. Nevertheless, when we go through these times of confusion, disillusionment, and desperation it can be difficult to see how God is working. In this episode, I’m sharing with you a portion from a recent sermon that I preached where I addressed these issues.

Watch or listen to the full sermon: https://www.redeemercity.com/sermons/god-works-in-a-mysterious-way-1-samuel-29

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Most of us struggle to keep up with the hustle and bustle of life, especially those who have kids. If you’re the parent of small children like me, you know how often it feels as though we are just trying to survive until bedtime. My guest on today’s show says that it’s possible for us to overcome some of that overwhelm while also better discipling our children. He argues that the secret is in the habits that our family is built around. His name is Justin Whitmel Early and we had an excellent discussion about his new book Habits of the Household.

Justin Whitmel Earley is a writer, speaker, lawyer, and founder of The Common Rule, an online resource center for Christians seeking Kingdom-formed habits that can sustain them in an age of chaos. This project, and its bestselling, award-winning book by the same name, arose out of Justin’s personal breakdown in the middle of becoming a father and a lawyer. Ultimately, his life and sanity were saved when he embraced a reformation of habits. Today, as a husband and father of four boys, and a sought-after speaker at churches and conferences, Justin continues his mission of empowering God’s people to thrive through life-giving habits that give meaning to our days. He and his family live in Richmond, Virginia, and you can follow him online at www.justinwhitmelearley.com.

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We find ourselves surrounded by a technological atmosphere today. The devices and media that we consume are so integrated into our lives that we often don’t even notice their presence. Moreover, we don’t consider how these digital tools are influencing us as people and as communities. My guest on today’s show is Felicia Wu Song and she shares much wisdom and insight on this issue through her book Restless Devices: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age.

Felicia Wu Song (Ph.D., University of Virginia) is a cultural sociologist of media and digital technologies, currently serving as professor of sociology at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. Her publications include Virtual Communities: Bowling Alone, Online Together and articles in such scholarly journals as Gender & Society and Information, Communication & Society.

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Over the last several years, we have repeatedly heard or said that this is a culturally divided age. Politics, culture, and even evangelicals appear to be more and more polarized over key moral issues. Societal disruption and breakdown are present all around our country. However, we might forget that this past decade is not the only time that Americans have been divided. The 1960s counter-culture was also filled with confusion, chaos, and deep divisions.

Os Guinness returned to the podcast to discuss the re-release of his book The Dust of Death: The Sixties Counterculture and How It Changed America Forever. Os shares the story behind the book including his time at L’Abri with Francis Schaeffer. We discussed his analysis of the sixties counterculture and his position that he calls Christian Realism. Finally, Os helps us to think about how to move forward in this culture.

Os Guinness (DPhil, Oxford) is the author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Dust of Death, The Call, Fool's Talk, Carpe Diem Redeemed, The Magna Carta of Humanity, Last Call for Liberty, Impossible People, Unspeakable, and Time for Truth. A frequent speaker and prominent social critic, he has addressed audiences worldwide from the British House of Commons to the U.S. Congress to the St. Petersburg Parliament. He is a senior fellow at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and was the founder of the Trinity Forum.

Born in China to missionary parents, he is the great-great-great-grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer. After witnessing the climax of the Chinese revolution in 1949, he was expelled with many other foreigners in 1951 and returned to England where he was educated and served as a freelance reporter with the BBC. Since coming to the U.S. in 1984, he has been a guest scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies and a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. He was the lead drafter of the Williamsburg Charter, celebrating the First Amendment, and has also been senior fellow at the EastWest Institute in New York, where he drafted the Charter for Religious Freedom. He also co-authored the public school curriculum Living With Our Deepest Differences.

Guinness has had a lifelong passion to make sense of our extraordinary modern world and to stand between the worlds of scholarship and ordinary life, helping each to understand the other—particularly when advanced modern life touches on the profound issues of faith. He lives with his wife, Jenny, in McLean, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.

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If you are going to understand Jesus' teaching in the Gospels, then you must know how to read the parables. The parables of Jesus are some of the most famous stories in the world for a good reason. Jesus was a master storyteller and the use of parables was one of his favorite teaching techniques. In part 2 of How to Read the Parables, I will teach you the four basic steps to interpreting the parables and provide examples.

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We live in a contentious time with a constant swirl of crises, controversies, and divisions. Christians often get caught up in the cycle of outrage in our reactionary culture. However, if we look at Scripture, then we will discover that Jesus desires us to be salt and light in the midst of cultural crises. My guest on today’s show helps us to see how Jesus laid forth this vision in his Sermon on the Mount and how we can be empowered to live it out. His name is Jonathan Dodson and we discuss his latest book Our Good Crisis: Overcoming Moral Chaos with the Beatitudes.

Jonathan Dodson is the founding pastor of City Life Church in Austin, TX which he started with his wife, Robie, and a small group of people. They have three children. He is also the founder of gcdiscipleship.com and author of a number of books including Gospel-Centered Discipleship, Our Good Crisis, and The Unbelievable Gospel. He enjoys listening to The War on Drugs, reading sci-fi, and going for walks.

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The rise of digital communications technology has had a significant impact in every area of human life. The Christian church has not been immune to the challenges of the digital age, as many leaders have grappled with how to approach it. While some church leaders have been enthusiastic about embracing the advantages of digital media, today’s guest is urging caution and wisdom as we evaluate how much we embrace and adapt to the digital age. His name is Jay Kim and he has written a book called Analog Church: Why We Need Real People, Places, and Things in the Digital Age.

Jay Y. Kim serves as lead pastor for teaching at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley of CA. He's the author of Analog Church and his written work has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, Relevant, and Outreach. He lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two young kids.

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One of the most famous names in the world is that of the Ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Yet, though many are familiar with his name, far less are familiar with his ideas and how Platonic thought influenced the history of philosophy. My guest on today’s show argues that Plato not only influenced Greek philosophy but that he also played a role in shaping the Christian faith. His name is Louis Markos and he has written an insightful new book titled From Plato to Christ: How Platonic Thought Shaped the Christian Faith.

Louis Markos (Ph.D., University of Michigan) is a professor of English and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University. He is the author of many books, including Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes, Ancient Voices: An Insider's Look at Classical Greece, From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics, Atheism on Trial: Refuting the Modern Arguments Against God, On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue in Tolkien and Lewis, and Restoring Beauty: The Good, the True, and the Beautiful in the Writings of C. S. Lewis.

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One of the enduring problems faced by humanity over the centuries is global poverty. An exciting development in the last century is the rapid economic growth in developed nations that provides us with an opportunity to address extreme poverty like never before. The issue is figuring out how to relieve poverty in the best and most sustainable way.

I believe that one of the absolute best groups doing poverty alleviation is Compassion International. They work in developing nations around the world by partnering with local churches to provide material needs and resources to children. Their program is efficiently run and has an amazing success rate. In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with an alumnus of their program David Wangaka.

David Wangaka is passionate about understanding and alleviating social injustices, advocating for the vulnerable, and eradicating extreme poverty. His story is a beautiful picture of full-circle redemption: this man who has dedicated his life to at-risk children was once an at-risk child himself. Raised in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya, David knows all too well the challenges of extreme poverty, the volatility of an alcoholic father, and the grief of losing his mother at a young age. When he was sponsored into Compassion’s child development program at ten years old, the healthcare, education, and nutrition he received changed his life significantly. After high school, David was invited to participate in Compassion’s leadership development program. This made it possible for him to pursue a college education, graduating from the University of Nairobi with a double major in Political Science and Sociology. He has an MBA from Louisiana University in Shreveport.

A charismatic and engaging communicator, David is a sought-after speaker in the areas of international development, social justice, and sustainable poverty alleviation. He shares from his own experiences about the impact of poverty, the transformative value of hope, and how to trust God through difficult times. David works at Compassion International as a Sponsor and Donor Relations Supervisor. He lives in Porterville, California, with his wife Chandell and their three sons, Shalom, Amani, and David Jr.

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Many people wonder if a document as old as the Bible can be considered historically reliable. Moreover, they wonder if it is even possible to test the reliability of a document that is so old. My guest today helps us to see that there are intellectually credible ways to test and rely on the historicity of the Gospels and the New Testament. Her name is Lydia McGrew and she introduces us to the argument from internal evidence and undesigned coincidences.

Dr. Lydia McGrew is a widely published analytic philosopher and author. She received her Ph.D. in English from Vanderbilt University in 1995. She has published extensively in the theory of knowledge, specializing in formal epistemology and in its application to the evaluation of testimony and to the philosophy of religion. She defends the reliability of the Gospels and Acts in her books Hidden in Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Acts, The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels From Literary Devices, and most recently The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage.

Check out the full show notes for highlights and resources from this episode: https://tinyurl.com/2jf454r6

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Hidden in Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Acts, https://tinyurl.com/4vxfw6r8
The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels from Literary Devices, https://tinyurl.com/vem96yum
The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage, https://tinyurl.com/29bex9j6

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The Bible describes the world as God’s cosmos. This word conveys the idea of creation being God’s well-ordered household that is organized for his glory. Paul emphasizes the importance of this truth in his letters when he explains that Christian households are to be a reflection of God’s household. Unfortunately, many Christians today do not think of their family lives as “households” with a purpose.

My guest in this episode helps us to recover a sense of the meaning and purpose of the Christian household. His name is C. R. Wiley and we discussed his superb book The Household and the War for the Cosmos. Besides writing for magazines and publishing books he has been a pastor (still is!), a college professor, a commercial real estate investor, a landlord (still that, too!), and a building contractor. He has been happily married for over 30 years and he has three grown children. He resides in the state of Washington.

He has written for Touchstone Magazine, Modern Reformation, Sacred Architecture, The Imaginative Conservative, Front Porch Republic, National Review Online, and First Things, among others. His most recent book is, The Household and the War for the Cosmos published by Canon Press (2019). His short fiction has appeared in The Mythic Circle (published by the Mythopoeic Society) and elsewhere, and the first book in his young adult fantasy series, The Purloined Boy was published by Canonball Books (2017). He is a board member of the Academy of Philosophy and Letters, as well as New Saint Andrews College.

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Justice, race, sexuality, and gender are among the hottest topics in our culture today. These issues are often packaged together under the banners of “social justice” and being “woke.” The church has not been immune from these conversations, as many Christians attempt to grapple with the various issues and voices around social justice.

As I have studied these debates, I have found one of the best resources to be Thaddeus Williams’s Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth. In this single volume, Williams tackles all of the foremost topics swirling around our culture today. His treatment of these debates is grounded in truth, compassion, and a desire for true justice. In this episode, we discuss his book and a Christian view of social justice that is grounded in a thoroughly biblical worldview.

Thaddeus Williams (Ph.D., Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) loves enlarging students’ understanding and enjoyment of Jesus at Biola University in La Mirada, CA, where he serves as assistant professor of Systematic Theology for Talbot School of Theology. He has also taught Philosophy and Literature at Saddleback College, Jurisprudence at Trinity Law School, and as a lecturer in Worldview Studies at L’Abri Fellowships in Switzerland and Holland, and Ethics for Blackstone Legal Fellowship the Federalist Society in Washington D.C. He resides in Orange County, CA with his wife and four kids.

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Every major world religion is based on a set of principles or truths. Adhering to these bodies of wisdom is the essence of following that religion. However, Christianity is unique in that the essence of biblical belief is centered upon a person—Jesus Christ. My guest on this episode argues that if we see the greatness of Jesus’ character, then we can’t help but follow him. His name is Tom Gilson and he has written a book called Too Good to be False. We discuss the book and what it means for belief, apologetics, and everyday life.

Tom Gilson is a senior editor with The Stream, and the author or editor of six books, including most recently Too Good to be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality (Deward Publishing, 2020). Other books of his include A Christian Mind: Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ and Critical Conversations: A Christian Parents’ Guide to Discussing Homosexuality With Teens. He was chief editor of the anthology True Reason: Christian Responses to the Challenge of Atheism, and he’s the author/host of the Thinking Christian blog.

Tom lives near Dayton, Ohio with his wife, Sara. They’re the proud grandparents of two grand-dogs, a grand-cat and a grand-bunny, by way of their twenty-something son and daughter and their respective spouses. He received a B.Mus. in Music Education with a specialty in performance from Michigan State University and an M.S. in Organizational Psychology from the University of Central Florida. When he’s not writing he loves drinking coffee, canoeing, walking in the woods, and playing his trombones.

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Critical Conversations: A Christian Parents' Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens

A Christian Mind: Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ

Over the last several years we have seen the rise in the gig economy and hustle culture. More and more people are attempting to achieve greater freedom and higher income through gigging, side hustles, or simply working more. Yet, few people are drawing attention to the lies of hustle culture and the risk of burnout. In this episode, author Daniel Im joined me to talk about these issues and the lies that we believe about work and life.

Daniel is the lead pastor of Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton, Alberta and the author of several books including his latest You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies About Work, Life, and Love. He co-hosts two podcasts the New Churches Q&A Podcast and the IMbetween Podcast. Daniel has an M. A. in Global Leadership and has served in churches in Canada, Korea, and the United States.

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Suffering is a fact of life that we must all face. Moreover, it is an element of life that every worldview must provide an answer for. Opponents of Christianity have considered the problem of evil to be the Achilles heel of the Christian faith. However, today’s guest sees no problem with the existence of an all-loving, all-powerful God in a world that has suffering. He argues that we must start off understanding the God of Scripture and the rest falls into place.

Scott Christensen joined me for this episode of Filter to discuss the problem of evil and the answer that he proposes called “the greater glory” argument. Scott holds an MDiv from The Master's Seminary and is the author of What about Free Will? and What about Evil? He worked for nine years at the award-winning CCY Architects in Aspen, Colorado where several of his home designs were featured in Architectural Digest magazine. Called out of this work to the ministry, he graduated with honors from seminary and now serves as the associate pastor of Kerrville Bible Church in Kerrville, Texas.

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Christians who desire to have an influence in the world for the sake of the gospel often overlook the greatest opportunity: family and work. God has given each of us the ability to spread his good news and make a positive impact in the communities around us through these most “everyday” aspects of our lives. How can we begin to live a life where our families and work become a blessing to the community?

Nathan Spearing joins us on the podcast to discuss how to do this through sharing his story. Nathan is a special operation veteran who left the high-adrenaline lifestyle of combat deployments to be a present father. After taking several big risks to follow this calling, he’s witnessing how God is using his family and new business to influence and bless his community.

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Many people in our postmodern world argue that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. They post that, as members of the Abrahamic faiths, Christianity and Islam are essentially the same. Most Christians intuitively know this is not true; yet, they still struggle to articulate why it is so. My guest on this podcast is Andy Bannister and his new book is an excellent resource to answer this question. Andy has been engaging Islam since the 90s through street evangelism in London and even completed a Ph.D. in Qur’anic studies. He is the Director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity, an evangelism and training ministry based in Scotland. He is passionate about getting the gospel out of the four walls of the Church (and into places like coffee shops, universities, schools, pubs, and so on). He also loves equipping Christians to share their faith at work or among their friends. Andy is a frequent speaker and the author of several works including "The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist" and his latest "Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?"

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One of Jesus’ most common teaching tools was the parable. If you have read the Gospels, then you know that he used these short stories frequently to answer questions and teach his disciples. Since Jesus used parables so often, it’s important that we are able to properly read them and gain their instruction for our lives. In part 1 of How to Read the Parables, we talk about what it means to read the Bible, what parables are, and the various types of parables.

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One of the foremost conversations in our country today is centered on race and systemic racism. In the past few years, a new ideology called “antiracism” has come to the forefront of the conversation. This approach to racism has been most popularized by Ibram X. Kendi, as well as other authors like Robin DiAngelo and Ta-Nehisi Coates. Sociologist and Christian author George Yancey has been a critic of antiracist scholars. He joins us in this episode to share about his latest article, “The Dangerous World of Kendi’s Antiracism.”

George Yancey is a scholar on race and religion in America. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Texas and began his career studying interracial relationships and multiethnic churches. Since 2019, he has been at Baylor University working on a joint appointment in Sociology and the Institute of Religious Studies. He’s the author of several books including So Many Christians, So Few Lions, Beyond Racial Gridlock, and his forthcoming title Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism.

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Renowned author and social critic Os Guinness joined the podcast to discuss his latest book The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom. Guinness argues that America is on its last leg as a republic and this book is his proposal for a path forward. He uses the Exodus narrative in the Pentateuch as a foundation for how Christianity provides a future for freedom. While the revolutions of men never end and are always totalitarian, a revolution from the Christian faith results in freedom and human flourishing.

Os Guinness is the author or editor of over thirty books including The Call, Fool’s Talk, and Carpe Diem Redeemed. As a social critic and Christian intellectual, he has traveled the world to give speeches on culture, freedom, and Christianity. Guinness was born to medical missionaries in China during World War II. He was educated in England and received his D.Phil. from Oxford University.

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For Earth Day 2021, we are celebrating with a special episode of Filter on science, climate change, and creation care. I got to have a great conversation with Dr. E. Calvin Beisner on a wide range of topics related to the environmental movement and Earth Day. Though many Christians might be unaware, the Bible gives us a foundation for creation care and how we ought to approach the challenges of poverty and environmental stewardship. Dr. Beisner argues that the predictions of climate alarmists are based on ideology, not data and that their solutions are inhumane to the world’s developing nations.

Dr. E. Calvin Beisner is the founder and national spokesman for The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation. He holds a Ph.D. in Scottish History from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He grew up in Calcutta, India where he witnessed the beauties of creation and the tragedies of poverty. These early experiences led him to study economics, poverty, and creation stewardship as a career. He is the author of several books including "Prosperity and Poverty: The Compassionate Use of Resources in a World of Scarcity," "Prospects for Growth: A Biblical View of Population, Resources, and the Future," and "Where Garden Meets Wilderness: Evangelical Entry into the Environmental Debate."

Check out the full show notes for highlights and resources from this episode: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/2021/4/15/filter-conversations-e-calvin-beisner-on-science-climate-change-and-creation-care

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Meditation and yoga are major parts of the mainstream culture in the West today. While only a few decades ago, they were only in the counter-culture revolution of the 60s and 70s. These practices do not originate in the Western mind but are the products of Eastern religions that were imported to the West. Yoga, meditation, and other Eastern mystic assumptions were imported and rebranded as health disciplines. Nevertheless, these practices still come with worldview implications that Christians must discern.

Dr. Douglas Groothuis joins us on this episode of Filter to talk about the dangers of New Age practices and how to discern them. He shares with us the history of how these worldviews were imported and assimilated into mainstream American culture. Dr. Groothuis also shares where to spot some of these ideas which have seeped into the church.

Douglas Groothuis is an expert in Eastern religions and New Age spirituality. He has been researching and writing on these topics since the 1970s. He’s the author of three books on these issues—Unmasking the New Age (1986), Confronting the New Age (1988), and Jesus In An Age of Controversy (2002). He has also contributed numerous other articles and essays on these topics to both scholarly and academic publications. Dr. Groothuis is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary.

Check out the full show notes for highlights and resources from this episode: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/2021/4/2/filter-conversations-doug-groothuis-on-meditation-and-new-age-spirituality

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In this episode of Filter Conversations, author Glenn Sunshine talks to us about his newest book Slaying Leviathan (Canon Press, 2020). This book is a historical exploration of the Christian tradition of limited government and resistance theory. Many Christians might be unaware that the beliefs in limited government and individual liberty in the West have their origins in Christianity. Dr. Sunshine introduces us to Jesus’ profound statement that lays the groundwork for limited government, Augustine’s contributions to Western political theology, Christian resistance theory, and how everyday Christians can resist Leviathan.

Dr. Glenn Sunshine is a Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University and Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He is the author of several books including Slaying Leviathan and Why You Think the Way You Do (Zondervan, 2009), which received the 2006 Acton Institute Book Grant.

Check out the full show notes: www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/2021/3/7/filter-conversations-glenn-sunshine-on-on-the-limited-government-liberty-and-christian-resistance

Purchase a copy of Glenn Sunshine’s newest book Slaying Leviathan: Limited Government and Resistance in the Christian Tradition at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Slaying-Leviathan-Government-Resistance-Christian/dp/195241072X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1615225588&sr=8-1

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Slaying Leviathan: Limited Government and Resistance in the Christian Tradition

What are church elders? If you grew up going to a church where elders played an important role, then you might have some idea of what it is all about. For many people, this church office in the New Testament is new and confusing. In this episode, I continue our short series in explaining church elders. We look into the roles and responsibilities of elders, as well as the relationship between the elders and congregation. Check out the show notes for highlights and resources: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/2021/1/20/filter-ep-14-what-are-church-elders-pt-2

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What are church elders? If you grew up going to a church where elders played an important role, then you might have some idea of what it is all about. For many people, this church office in the New Testament is new and confusing. In this episode, I begin a short series on church elders. We'll learn a simple definition, see what the Bible says about elders, and take a look at the character qualifications for elders. Check out the show notes for highlights and resources from this episode: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/2021/1/12/filter-ep-13-what-are-church-elders-pt-1

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Ben Malcomson never intended to be on the number one college football team in the country or work for one of the most famous coaches in the NFL. However, when he decided to pursue his passion and follow God's purpose for his life, these are just a few of the incredible things that happened. His story is an inspiration to all of us who tend to wonder if God is at work in our lives and if what we are doing is making a difference.

In this conversation, I had the great privilege to talk to Ben about his amazing story. We also discussed the struggles that Ben has had to overcome and what he learned from those hardships. He shares why we can trust God's plans, and he also tells us about some practices that he has learned for staying spiritually and emotionally healthy. Check out our show notes for resources related to this episode: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/20...

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The Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden argue that if someone is truly pro-life then they will support a candidate that advocates for a progressive platform, even if that person is expressly pro-choice. They make the case that to be fully pro-life one must pursue agendas to improve living circumstances for every person beyond just the pre-born.

In this conversation, Aaron interviewed Dr. E. Calvin Beisner about the Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden. They also discussed the issue of social justice and how Christians ought to think about justice. Dr. Beisner is the founder and national spokesman of the Cornwall Alliance. Check out the show notes for resources: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/20...

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Americans have been grappling with issues related to race and social inequities for generations. In the past few decades, a new approach to analyzing and approaching these issues has developed called Critical Theory. This new theory has gained a special prominence in the last several years.

On this episode of Filter Conversations, we had Dr. Doug Groothuis join us to discuss the worldview of critical theory and its incompatibility with both Christianity and the American system. This conversation was centered around his new article “America, Critical Theory, and Social Crisis.” Dr. Groothuis explains to us the origins of Critical Theory, how it spread in the United States, and how this theory is destructive to American society.

Dr. Groothuis is professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of several books. He is currently working on the second edition of his magnum opus book Christian Apologetics. Dr. Groothuis is also the author of several other volumes including Philosophy in Seven Sentences, Truth Decay, and Unmasking the New Age. He is also a frequent contributor to both scholarly and popular publications.

Show Highlights * The American system is unique in history and among systems of government. * Our government is based around two foundational documents: the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. * The Constitution is a profound document for its system of checks and balances, as well as its ability to be amended. * Critical Theory is a worldview which categorizes human society into a system of oppressed and oppressors based upon group identity. * The origins of Critical Theory are found in the cultural Marxism of 1960s academia. * The Christian worldview and Critical Theory are incompatible for many reasons.

Resources * Find a collection of Dr. Groothuis’s blogs and other works at https://douglasgroothuis.com/. * Read Dr. Groothuis’s article “America, Critical Theory, and Social Crisis” at …….. * Check out Dr. Groothuis’s book Christian Apologetics on Amazon. * For an excellent analysis of Critical Theory from a Christian worldview, see Dr. Neil Shenvi’s website. * On the topic of Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility, read Tim Challies three part critical review. * Watch a good conversation on Critical Theory with Dr. Voddie Baucham on “Exposing & Opposing Social Justice Theology” at YouTube.

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Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith

We live in an age of religious pluralism. This religious pluralism is more than a fact of diversity but is also a value of our society. In a pluralistic society, if anyone claims exclusive, absolute truth, then they are deemed intolerant and arrogant.

Religious pluralism poses a challenge to the Christian faith which claims that salvation is only available through the work of Jesus Christ. How should Christians respond to the challenge of religious pluralism? In this episode, Aaron explains the worldview of pluralism and shows how Christians can respond to the challenge.

Show Notes * Proponents of religious pluralism argue that exclusive truth claims are divisive and dangerous for the world. * Religious pluralism is the belief that all religions and worldviews are equally valid and true. * The worldview of religious pluralism is self-contradictory. * Christianity provides a better answer for the divisiveness of religion. * Truth is exclusionary by nature. * The gospel is exclusive in its claim that salvation is only in Jesus. * The gospel is the most inclusive of any religious claims since it offers salvation by grace. * When people are formed by the gospel, then they will be loving and merciful to those who are different from themselves.

Resources * See my newest article at Boundless.org “Is Jesus the Only Way?” * Read about religious pluralism at the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. * Read the chapter “Religious Pluralism” in Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothuis. * For a longer, more philosophical treatment of the subject, see William Lane Craig’s article at Reasonable Faith “How Can Christ Be the Only Way to God?” * Watch “Exclusivity: How can there be just one true religion?” by Timothy Keller on the Gospel in Life YouTube channel.

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Follow Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @aaronmshamp.

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Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith

Race relations and systemic racism has been one of the dominant conversations in America over the past few months. We see divisions over this topic in the media, social networking, and even in the church. Sadly, even Christians cannot find agreement in much of the fundamental elements of this conversation.

In this episode, we will be asking an even more foundational question of the Bible. In order to better understand what it has to say about racism and racial reconciliation, we first need to ask what the Bible has to say about race. Check out this episode and the show notes below for some surprising answers to our question for today.

Show Notes * The Bible’s view of race and humanity must begin with the creation account in Genesis 1-2. * The Bible proclaims that every human being was made in the image of God and is therefore endowed with dignity and value. * The creation account also tells us that all of humanity has a common origin in the individuals Adam and Eve. * According to the Smithsonian, all of the differences that exist between people only account for a .1% variance in our genes. In other words, all human beings are 99.99% genetically identical. * More biblical categorization for thinking of human diversity is to think of people in ethnic, national, and cultural groups. * Ethnic strife and “racism” has always existed between people groups, but the concept of “race” was not introduced until the 1600s by Francois Bernier. * The thesis that different “races” of people descended from various origins (polygenesis) became the foundation for atrocities such as the abuses of indigenous peoples, American chattel slavery, and Nazi Germany. * In seeking to hold a biblical view of race, we should avoid the two ditches of either critical theory or colorblindness.

Resources * For an excellent, brief overview of the biblical view of race see “What does the Bible say about race?” by Dr. J. Danny Hays. * Dr. Voddie Baucham addressed the two ditches of critical theory and colorblindness in his magnificent message “Ethnic Gnosticism” at the Founders YouTube channel. * A good explanation of the biblical position that all of humanity is descended from Adam and Even can be found at “Only One Biological Race” with Ken Ham. * For a historical explanation of how race became institutionalized in American chattel slavery, see The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby.

Read about the history of the concept of race and a more philosophical treatment of the subject in the “Race” article of the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

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The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism

Modern society tends to want us to move at a blistering pace. Many people today find themselves overworked and stretched thin by various commitments. Unfortunately, this experience is often true for Christians as well.

In this episode, Aaron confronts the issue that is keeping us from being able to slow down and find rest. We’ll look at the real obstacle to finding rest and how we can embrace God’s gift of Sabbath rest. Check out our show notes below for highlights and resources from this episode.

Show Notes * The greatest obstacle to us finding rest is often not outside of us but inside of us. * “The enemy of the Sabbath is a heart that is clinging to control.” * Sabbath rest is a posture of the heart before it is a posture of the body. * Are you unable to take off? Say "no" to work? * Can you enjoy activities that aren't "accomplishing" anything? * Is your heart seized with anxiety over every small uncertainty, bump in the road, or challenge? Do you find yourself on the edge of burnout?

Resources * Watch the full sermon here: “Entering God’s Rest.” * “Rest Because You Can” by Jonathan Parnell at Desiring God * The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer * A. J. Swoboda - “Subversive Sabbath” on The Right Side Up Leadership Podcast

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Follow Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @aaronmshamp.

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The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World

Show notes coming soon.

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Show notes coming soon.

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In this three-part series, Aaron is going to confront the question of if God is good, then why did he allow the coronavirus? In Part 3, we will look at how the Christian worldview answers the problem of evil. Aaron discusses the biblical worldview’s answer to the origin of evil, God’s love in spite of the world’s tragedy, and the comfort that the gospel gives us. Check out the show notes below for highlights and resources.

Show Notes * The Christian worldview tells us that God’s good creation was corrupted by humanity’s rebellion in Genesis 3. * God’s love required the possibility of corruption entering the creation. Because of God’s infinite love and wisdom, he knew that free creatures would be better than determined ones. * The love and goodness of God provide us with the best foundation for discovering meaning and hope in suffering. * “For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” -- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (CSB) * “And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” -- Romans 5:3-5 (CSB) * “[Our ignorance to God’s reasons for suffering] does not mean the Bible advises intellectual capitulation, because God does invite us to “reason together” with him (Isaiah 1:18 KJV) and to give a reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15). It is reasonable to suppose that the ways of an all-powerful and all-knowing God will sometimes be mysterious to us.” -- Douglas Groothuis, Walking Through Twilight * We can have such confidence in the love and goodness of God because he suffered under tragedy and malevolence. * “Therefore, a Christian is not so much a person who has solved the problem of pain, suffering and the coronavirus, but one who has come to love and trust a God who has himself suffered.” John Lennox, Where Is God In a Coronavirus World? * “God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” Charles Spurgeon

Resources * I am greatly indebted to John Lennox’s Where is God in a Coronavirus World? * “Where is God in a Coronavirus World? John Lennox, Michael Ramsden | #RZIMLIVE | RZIM” Ravi Zacharias International Ministries on YouTube * “How Do We Make Sense of the Coronavirus? // Ask Pastor John” Desiring God on YouTube * For a great book on a Christian view of tragedy and lament, see Douglas Groothuis’ memoir Walking Through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness--A Philosopher’s Lament.

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Walking Through Twilight: A Wife's Illness―A Philosopher's Lament

The coronavirus pandemic has caused enormous pain and suffering across the globe. Many in our country and around the world are grappling with big questions about life and God because of the pain caused by this crisis. Even for those who are only witnesses to the tragedy, these events are alarming and begging certain questions.

In this three-part series, Aaron is going to confront the question of if God is good, then why did he allow the coronavirus? In Part 2, we will consider the three major families of worldviews and consider what answer they each provide for pain and suffering. This episode primarily examines pantheistic and atheistic worldviews and the next episode will cover theistic. Check out the show notes below for highlights and resources.

Show Notes * Your worldview is a set of beliefs that you use to interpret and interact with the reality around you. * In it’s most basic form, a worldview answers three questions: where did we come from, what is the problem with the world?, and what is the solution to the problem? * Each individual person is unique and will subscribe more or less to one worldview, often blending together multiple worldviews. Intellectual integrity demands we remain consistent with the worldview of our choice.

Resources * I am greatly indebted to John Lennox’s Where is God in a Coronavirus World? * “Where is God in a Coronavirus World? John Lennox, Michael Ramsden | #RZIMLIVE | RZIM” Ravi Zacharias International Ministries on YouTube * “How Do We Make Sense of the Coronavirus? // Ask Pastor John” Desiring God on YouTube

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Follow Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @aaronmshamp.

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The coronavirus pandemic has caused enormous pain and suffering across the globe. Many in our country and around the world are grappling with big questions about life and God because of the pain caused by this crisis. Even for those who are only witnesses to the tragedy, these events are alarming and begging certain questions.

In this three-part series, Aaron is going to confront the question of if God is good, then why did he allow the coronavirus? In Part 1, we will consider the uniqueness of the COVID-19 pandemic and why it is so difficult to make sense of it. We will also briefly articulate the classic “problem of evil” and consider it in terms of the current situation. Check out the show notes below for highlights and resources.

Show Notes * Many of us assumed that plagues and pandemics were relegated to history or less developed parts of the world. Therefore, the coronavirus has made us feel vulnerable. * “We thought that our modern, scientific world was a fortress but it turned out to be a house of cards.” * “We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world” -- C. S. Lewis (The Problem of Pain, 81). * The problem of evil distinguishes between two different types of evil. * “Natural evil” is the tragedy, catastrophe, and frailty of life. * “Human evil” is the evil done by the hands of men. It is malevolence. * Often these two types of evil can mix and exacerbate one another. * “EPICURUS's old questions are yet unanswered. Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?” -- David Hume * The problem of evil is “an argument only against the existence of a good God” -- Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion, 135). * We need an answer that brings intellectual, emotional, and spiritual insight; so that by making sense of the coronavirus, we can progress in character formation. * “Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart.” -- Fyodor Dostoevsky

Resources * I am greatly indebted to John Lennox’s Where is God in a Coronavirus World? * “Where is God in a Coronavirus World? John Lennox, Michael Ramsden | #RZIMLIVE | RZIM” Ravi Zacharias International Ministries on YouTube * “How Do We Make Sense of the Coronavirus? // Ask Pastor John” Desiring God on YouTube

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. * Spotify * Follow Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @aaronmshamp.

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Meditation is a topic that is not frequently taught in many churches. We shy away from it because of the connotations of non-Christian practices. However, biblical meditation is an essential part of the Christian life and is mentioned repeatedly in Scripture.

In this episode of Filter, Aaron will help you to understand what Christian meditation is, how it is different from non-Christian forms of mediation, and how you can practice biblical mediation in your own prayer life. Check out the show notes below for highlights and resources from this episode.

Show Notes * According to Psalm 1:2, the righteous “meditate” on the Scriptures day and night. * We should not fear biblical mediation because of the mystical associations with the word. * Meditation is all over the Bible. * “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Ps. 19:14 * “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.” Ps. 143:5 * “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it…” Joshua 1:8 * Christian meditation is not just different than Eastern and transcendental meditation, it is the opposite of them. * Eastern/transcendental meditation wants you to empty your mind to achieve insight. Christian meditation teaches you to fill your mind to receive insight. * “Meditation chews the cud, and gets the sweetness and nutritive virtue of the Word into the heart and life: this is the way the godly bring forth much fruit.” - Bartholomew Ashwood

Resources * Praying the Bible by Don Whitney * “How Do I Pray the Bible?” Ask Pastor John Podcast * “5 Steps to Meditating on Your Bible” by Kristen Wetherell * “Practicing Prayer -- Psalm 1” by Aaron Shamp * “22 Benefits of Meditating on Scripture” by Justin Taylor

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify

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Praying the Bible

In our first conversation episode, Aaron interviewed author and leadership coach Alan Briggs. Alan is the lead coach at StayForth Designs and the author of multiple books including Staying Is The New Going, Guardrails, and Everyone’s A Genius. He has experience as a pastor, church planter, coach to leaders in the non-profit and business world, as well as being a mountain guide.

This episode dives into many topics that we all face. Aaron and Alan discuss managing life during social distancing, marriage and family, discovering your calling, leadership coaching, and creating healthy rhythms in life. You can find highlights and further resources in the show notes below.

Show Highlights * “Where there are limitations there is innovation.” * “What are you endlessly curious about? God put that there.” * When trying to discover your calling, explore the curiosities that God gave you and take your time. God might intend for the exploration to take a while. * “Comparison is the creativity killer.” * “What’s worth doing even if you fail?” - Brene Brown * “God has built the world on rhythm, not balance.”

Resources * Connect with Alan on social media: Facebook, Instagram. * StayForth Designs. * Check out Alan’s books on Amazon. * The Right-Side Up Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts. + 066 John Mark Comer “Eliminating Hurry” + 060 Nona Jones “Resilience; Success from the Inside Out” + 059 Jon Tyson “How to raise a man” * The Right-Side Up Journal.

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify

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The Christian message boldly includes that Jesus Christ rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion. Modern people, even Christians, might find this claim difficult to believe. However, we have a lot of evidence for Jesus’ resurrection that can challenge skepticism and bolster faith.

In this episode, we look at Aaron’s top 5 evidences for Jesus’ resurrection. We’ll consider facts related to first-century views on resurrection, the first witnesses to the empty tomb, the birth of the church, and more. Explore the highlights and resources below for more on this topic.

Show Highlights * The Christian message stands or falls on the resurrection of Jesus. * No one in the first century believed in resurrection as the Christians claimed happened to Jesus, which would have made their message difficult to accept. * Paul’s quoting of a creed in 1 Corinthians 15 shows that the very first Christians believed in an empty tomb and resurrection. * All four Gospels claim that women were the first eyewitnesses to the empty tomb. In a patriarchal society, this would pose a problem. * “One of the most remarkable facts about the early Christian belief in Jesus’ resurrection was that it flourished in the very city where Jesus had been publicly crucified.” - William Lane Craig

Resources * The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel * Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics by William Lane Craig * Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothuis * The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is by N. T. Wright

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Follow Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @aaronmshamp

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Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith

Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics

The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus

The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was & Is

The COVID-19 pandemic has required that many of us stay at home. We have to learn how to work, be students, and spend much more time in our houses or apartments than normal. While some of us might have looked forward to the time off or excuse to be home, we might find ourselves wasting time and missing our key relationships.

In this episode, you will learn how to maintain the two main areas threatened by the social distancing measures: productivity and relationships. I’ll give you some thoughts on how to wisely manage those areas and practical tips to keep up your relationships and productivity.

Show Highlights * Technology can provide us with a temporary compromise in times when we are not able to see others face-to-face. * We should be aware of the limitations of technology so that we use it with wisdom. * “The most practical thing in the world is taking care of your soul.” * The key to being productive when your normal schedule is upended is to set realistic expectations. * Following a normal schedule and routines as much as possible will greatly benefit your daily productivity. * You should limit digital media and engage in as many analog activities as possible.

Resources * “How to Practice Social Distancing with Wisdom” by Aaron Shamp at Boundless * “Faithful Living Through the Coronavirus” by Douglas Groothuis * Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport * “How Digital Minimalism Can Improve Your Life” by Aaron Shamp

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Follow Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @aaronmshamp

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Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

In every age, the Christian faith faces challenges from opponents within the surrounding culture. It is the task of believers in every period to craft reasonable, persuasive responses to these questions and doubts. Apologetics is the discipline of defending, commending, and communicating the faith.

This episode will help you to understand the main biblical text for apologetics and the various uses for apologetics. You will learn how we can utilize a variety of tools to do apologetics, as well as what is the most important thing in Christian apologetics.

Show Highlights * “Apologetics… is the practice of offering an appeal and a defense for the Christian faith. In other words, apologetics, through word and deed, answers both why a person can believe (defense) and why a person should believe (appeal)” - Joshua Chatraw and Mark Allen * Apologetics is useful for defending the faith from attacks, commending the faith to hearers, communicating the faith to unbelievers and more. * The tools at the apologist’s disposal are more than rational arguments but also include scientific and historical evidence, storytelling, and more. * Our concern in apologetics should also include a focus on our character and manners before the world. * The three most important character traits for Christian Apologetics.

Resources * “The Most Important Thing in Christian Apologetics” by Bob Stewart * Apologetics at the Cross: An Introduction for Christian Witness by Joshua D. Chatraw and Mark D. Allen * Mere Apologetics by Alister McGrath * Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothuis * The God Who Is There by Francis Schaeffer

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Follow Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @aaronmshamp

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Apologetics at the Cross: An Introduction for Christian Witness

Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith

Mere Apologetics: How To Help Seekers And Skeptics Find Faith

God Who Is There

Many of us are struggling to find more time, energy, and focus. The problem is something that has become one of the most pervasive and seemingly irreplaceable parts of our lives--digital media. We need a Christian theology of media because of the power and ubiquitousness of it in our society.

In this episode, we look into the reasons why media poses so many problems for us. We’ll see the need for a Christian philosophy of media and get a perspective on how we can begin in building that philosophy.

Show Highlights * The pervasiveness and rapid expansion of media threaten two of the most important facets of human life: embodied interactions and mindful presence in everyday life. * Every potential benefit offered to us by a new media form is also a potential loss. * If we understand that the medium is the message, then we will be concerned to know that message and evaluate it with the Christian worldview. * The gospel is the fundamental answer that we need to break free from the hold of media on our lives. * The best initial practice that we can do is the “digital detox” recommended by Cal Newport. * When our time and attention aren’t dominated by media, then we can focus on meaningful relationships and activities.

Resources * The Soul in Cyberspace by Douglas Groothuis * Understanding Media by Marshall McLuhan * Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport * “How Digital Minimalism Can Improve Your Life” by Aaron Shamp

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Follow Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @aaronmshamp

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/filterpodcast/message

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

The Soul in Cyberspace

Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man

The Bible is the Christian’s daily bread. Yet, so many believers are stuck in spiritual malnourishment because they struggle with Bible intake. Bible reading is a keystone habit--a practice that has outstanding benefits in life and other spiritual disciplines. Therefore, it is the foundation for every spiritually healthy Christian.

In this episode, we will look at the importance of Bible reading through Scripture and from insights gained through research. You will be given tips for how to grow in Bible reading consistency, as well as practical steps for a better understanding of what you read in God’s Word.

Show Highlights * According to LifeWay research on 4,000 Christians, out of the eight attributes of growing believers, Bible engagement ranked #1. * In “No Silver Bullets,” Daniel Im showed deeper analysis that demonstrated the effectiveness of Bible reading to increase the other spiritual disciplines. * When it comes to choosing a Bible reading plan or devotional, any plan that you will do is better than a more impressive plan that you won’t do. * Bible reading habits are best developed by building consistency in time, place, and practice. * You can aid your habit-building by creating some external cues to start your devotion time, such as making coffee or listening to music. * Understanding the Bible can improve by learning and practicing a few simple steps.

Resources * No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts That Will Transform Your Ministry by Daniel Im * Massive LifeWay Research Project Identifies Eight Measures of Personal Discipleship * How To Grow In God’s Word Today by Aaron Shamp * The ESV Study Bible * The CSB Study Bible

Subscribe and Connect * If you’re in the Acadiana area, visit us at Redeemer City Church. We’d love to see you! * YouTube * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Follow Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @aaronmshamp

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/filterpodcast/message

No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will Transform Your Ministry

How does the Christian message make sense of our current chaotic world? In Filter, host Aaron Shamp, pastor of Redeemer City Church in Lafayette, LA, addresses topics and questions we all face through a Christian world view perspective. Join us for this series of conversations starting March 1st!

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/filterpodcast/message