The Good News Cast: Recent Episodes
Good News Cast
The Good News Cast is about discussing the power of the Gospel, who Jesus is and what He has done for us, and how Good News changes everything.
We love to talk about God’s Law and Gospel. Some have said if you do not understand the distinction between the Law and the Gospel, you can’t understand the Bible. On this episode, Jeff and Collin discuss how the Law and Gospel work in the Christian life. Specifically, some say that the Law drives us to the Gospel and then as Christians “we go back to the Law”. But is that the best way of talking about the Law in the Christian life? Let’s talk about it! Permalink
Our American culture is in a race to find the secret to health. We're told to avoid eating until the afternoon, cold plunge, sauna, work out unless you're sick, and basically never eat processed foods. We're looking for the key and things seem so...complicated. Similarly, in the church we seem to always be looking for the secret, the key to arriving in the Christian life. We are motivated often by a sense that we are not 'OK' yet. Something is wrong but maybe this new Christian pastor, speaker, or author has the secret. We're looking for the key and things seem so...complicated. Perhaps it's time to return to simple Christian living, like we see in the New Testament. Permalink
Of course many outside the church find is easy to criticize the church. And a lot of the criticism is valid. We are all humans with corrupt natures, even those who are in Christ. It is also right to criticize ourselves. The Bible is full of correction and rebuke coming from within the church directed to the church. However, it is sometimes all too easy to miss the otherworldly difference between the church community in comparison to all other communities on the planet. So, what makes the church so positively…incredible? Permalink
Sometimes in the church we feel the pressure to present a different picture from reality about who we are, what’s going on in our lives, and what we’re actually feeling. We do this with our church communities too. Let’s talk about it.
Sometimes in the church we make talking to people about Christ and Christianity more complicated or difficult than it needs to be. Sure, it can be hard. We don’t always have the answers we think we need to have. But talking about Christianity in our culture seems to be getting…easier.
Sometimes in the church we make talking to people about Christ and Christianity more complicated or difficult than it needs to be. Sure, it can be hard. We don’t always have the answers we think we need to have. But talking about Christianity in our culture seems to be getting…easier.
Whether you’re looking for a church or settled in a church, you’ve probably thought about what you want in a church. Our mindset for evaluating our church needs to be biblical, so let’s talk about it!
Many churches are filled to the brim each week not because people are coming to hear the Gospel but rather to hear another lesson in how to improve as Christians. While we assume most people on Sundays don't want to hear more commands and demands (Law), the opposite appears to the case. It seems safer to assume most on Sunday want to hear more of the Law, less of the Gospel. Moralism sells. But while we need God's authoritative Law, the Gospel should always get the last, triumphant Word.
Maybe you’ve never heard of the Institute In Basic Life Principles (IBLP) but perhaps you've seen the recent documentary, "Shiny Happy People", about the Duggar family and IBLP. And if you're an evangelical Christian you've probably come into contact, in one form or another, with the general teachings and ideas of the former leader of IBLP, Bill Gothard. In fact, it is surprising how so many churches teach the same idea just in a slightly different “flavor”. In this second episode in a series about IBLP, a former member and a former staff member of the movement discuss whether Bill Gothard and IBLP taught the biblical gospel, examining whether or not they do in fact teach historic Christianity.“What I need first of all is not exhortation, but a gospel, not directions for saving myself but knowledge of how God has saved me. Have you any good news? That is the question that I ask of you. I know your exhortations will not help me. But if anything has been done to save me, will you not tell me the facts?” ― J. Gresham MachenShow Notes:https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2017/apollinarianism/
https://heidelblog.net/2014/03/reformed-basics-on-dichotomy-and-trichotomy/
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How do you think about yourself? Who are you, where'd you come from, and why are you here? And what does all of that have to do with gender? Let's talk about it!
Maybe you’ve never heard of the Institute In Basic Life Principles (IBLP) but perhaps you've seen the recent documentary, "Shiny Happy People", about the Duggar family and IBLP. And if you're an evangelical Christian you've probably come into contact, in one form or another, with the teachings of the former leader of IBLP, Bill Gothard. In this first episode in a series about IBLP, a former member of the movement discusses the core teachings of Bill Gothard and IBLP, examining whether or not they do in fact teach historic Christianity.
The church’s mission can be describe in many ways. At our church we like to say we exist to connect people to God, to connect people to people, and to connect people to mission, all because the Gospel reconciles us to God, unites us to each other, and is the message the world around us needs. Permalink
Pastor Michael Visy joins the podcast today to talk with Collin about what it’s been like to be young pastors, what we’ve learned, and why it matters for our church families.Permalink
We are inundated with messaging 24/7, usually through our phones. What kind of posture should a Christian have towards the onslaught of media messaging we receive and how should we teach children to navigate this kind of world? Let’s talk about it.
Should individual Christians hold to a non-violent ethic, believing that to be violent is always sinful? Can a Christian practice self-defense or defense of others if it means being violent? Can a Christian own and carry a weapon? Can a Christian be in a profession that may require violence, such as being a police officer? The guys talk about all of this and more in this episode.
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We are made to live comforted. Living in a fallen, corrupt world full of dark tragedy only reveals how desperately we need comfort. So, what is our comfort in life and in death? Let’s talk about it.
It seems many churches don’t take the Lord’s Supper regularly due to confusing about what it is. But it also may be that many don’t serve it regularly due to the fact that Gospel no longer holds a central place in the church. Let’s talk about it.Permalink
Why do many churches in America sing so much on Sundays? Could it be that we have left the Gospel out of our preaching and think that music is the Gospel itself? Could it be that people are looking for the peace the Gospel brings in the mere act of listening to and making music? Let's talk about it.
What if we are expecting not too little but too much with our walk with God? Many Christians seem to be expecting to experience what we will only experience once we are glorified and they are left disappointed again and again. And what if the ways in which we are seeking to connect with God are not ways given to us in the Bible? Many Christians are told to connect with God through means not prescribed in the Bible and they are left disappointed again and again. But what if there is a better way forward in your daily walk with God, a way forward that doesn’t leave you feeling so disappointed week after week? Let’s talk about it.Permalink
What just happened at Asbury? Everyone in the church seems to be talking about it, wondering what happened. On this episode we’ll answer what a revival is and look at what happened at Asbury in light of that.The original audio was damaged for unknown reasons so this episode is a summary of the original conversation between Jeff and Collin.Permalink
We live in a city with tons of churches. Big ones, average ones, small ones. But does that mean our city is loaded with people who have been reached by the Gospel or are even hearing much of the Gospel at those churches? We hope so. In this episode we give our thoughts on what it could mean to be underreached in the Bible belt.Permalink
Reading the Bible can be very easy at times and at other times very frustrating. On this episode the guys discuss the simplicity of interpreting the Bible and the tools available to take your interpretation to the next level.
If you’re like us, you’ve cracked open the Bible, read a bit, understood little, and then closed it to move on with your day. Reading and understanding the Bible can be so easy sometimes and so hard at other times. In this episode, Jeff and Collin discuss how understanding the big picture of the Bible will immediately help you understand the specific verses or passage you’re reading.
Is your growth in the Christian life up to you, up to God, or is it the result of God teaming up with you?
Our views of how sanctification takes place in our lives greatly affects our practical, daily lives and it can even affect our understanding of our justification. It is vital to understand who is sanctifying who in the Christian life. Let’s talk about it!
What are spiritual gifts? Are they still being given out today? Specifically, is God still giving out the gifts of miracles, prophecy, and tongues? Jeff and Collin recently hosted a theology night on this topic that can be found on Redeemer Waco’s YouTube channel. On this episode the guys recap some of the content and more.
Whether it’s praying a certain prayer, walking an isle, or cleaning your life up by surrendering all, we are tempted to think we can secure God’s acceptance of us. We think we can justify ourselves to some degree. In this series Jeff and Collin will discuss popular ways we try both justify ourselves (i.e. secure God’s acceptance) and sanctify ourselves (i.e. become more like Christ).
Our American culture has opened itself back up to the idea that there might be much more to our world and reality than meets the eye. But Christians have known this from the beginning and Christians must understand the invisible world. The Bible regularly talks about it and ultimately does so for our encouragement and comfort. In this conclusion to this series Jeff and Collin will discuss the invisible realm and why we must understand it.
What are angels and how should we think about them? Our American culture has opened itself back up to the idea that there might be much more to our world and reality than meets the eye. But Christians have known this from the beginning. In this series Jeff and Collin will discuss the invisible realm in general and demons and angels in particular, so buckle up!
What are demons and how should we think about the invisible realm? Our American culture has opened itself back up to the idea that there might be much more to our world and reality than meets the eye. But Christians have known this from the beginning. In this series Jeff and Collin will discuss the invisible realm in general and demons and angels in particular, so buckle up!
*Please forgive some audio issues on this episode.
What are demons and how should we think about the invisible realm? Our American culture has opened itself back up to the idea that there might be much more to our reality than meets the eye. From the beginning Christians have known that God made the visible and the invisible. In this series Jeff and Collin will discuss the invisible realm, demons, angels, and how understanding these realities is so helpful in our daily lives, so buckle up!
What is confession of sin and spiritual discipline? And what does it look and feel like to be in a church culture in which your sin and discipline for your sin is the central focal point? The guys talk about all that and more on this week’s episode.
Christians agree to disagree on all sorts of topics and one of those is the topic of election. Election is definitely in the Bible but what is it? On this episode Collin discusses how Arminians and Calvinists both affirm the general reality of election but disagree on the topic in at least one significant way.
Christians agree to disagree on all sorts of topics. In the debate between Arminian and Calvinist theology, Arminians think Calvinists violate genuine love for God, making genuine love for God impossible. In this episode Collin responds to that objection.
On our last episode Jeff and Collin discussed our personal approach to God. But how should a local church on Sunday morning approach God? We are not asking what components should be included in worship but rather how should those aspects of worship actually be done. Should the music only sound joyous? Should the responsive readings only be somber? Is there any room to acknowledge that we are humans coming from all sorts of backgrounds with all sorts of realities at play on Sunday morning? Let’s talk about it.
Christians agree to disagree on all sorts of topics. In the debate between Arminian and Calvinist theology, Arminians think Calvinists violate the character of God, making him out to not be as loving and merciful as the Bible teaches. In this episode Collin responds to that objection.
Should we approach God with fear, reverence, and awe because He is high and lofty or should we approach him comfortably and casually because He is our Father? Many churches and many in the church communicate that we should approach him with both fear and comfort, balancing the two. And sometimes we do not even understand what it means to have fear or joy before God. So, how do we approach God…with fear or comfort? Our answer: yes.
Christians agree to disagree on all sorts of topics and one of those is the topic of how someone comes to have faith in Christ. Some people believe in Jesus. Others don’t. A key question is: why? On this episode Collin discusses how Arminians and Calvinists both affirm strongly and clearly that faith is a gift of God and brought about by God’s grace. However, the Arminian theology and Calvinist theology diverge significantly at a crucial point.
We are all longing for glory. The Bible says Christians are headed towards glorification, life with God in glory where there is no sin, sadness, or death. Life with God. This longing can drive us to want something more in the Christian life and to seek to be on the forefront of Christianity or find a secret no one else knows. We can think we are on the forefront of Christianity because of our spiritual disciplines schedule, small group structure, theology accuracy, or because we think we found the secret key to unlocking the power of the Holy Spirit. On this episode, Jeff and Collin discuss what that looks like and how we should respond.
Christians agree to disagree on all sorts of topics and one of those is the topic of the sinful state of people. How sinful are we and what are we capable of in our sin? On this episode Collin discusses how Arminians and Calvinists both affirm the reality of “total depravity” but diverge significantly at a crucial point.
What is faith? Faith is such an important topic in the Bible and in our lives but interestingly, faith isn’t mean to focus on itself. On this episode Jeff and Collin discuss what faith is, Heb. 11:1, and how important doctrine is in the Christian life.
We're back for season 4! On this episode Jeff and Collin discuss joy and happiness as Christians as well as upcoming topics for their church's theology nights: Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Gifts.
God's Church, and local church congregations that make up the Church (past, present, and future), is an astounding community. It is remarkable not because of its moral standards or practices but because it is a people who have been rescued and raised from the realm of the dead. The gates of hell have not and will not prevail over it.
Christians are always talking about sanctification. We are always talking about the Christian life, what it should look like, what progress looks like, how holy we ought to be, and on and on we go. So, what is sanctification, who does it, and what do we need to understand about it to not go crazy? Let’s discuss!
It is easy to treat the doctrine of justification as what we learn as we enter the Kingdom of God but what is just fine to forget as a Christian. But the reality is that, as Martin Luther said, we need to incessantly hear the message of justification. So, what is justification and why is it central to Christianity, the church, and the daily Christian life? Let’s talk about it.
Faith often becomes yet another "work" Christians think they need to do for God. Faith often becomes something we think we need to harness and grow in order to make God work in our lives. But biblically speaking, what is faith? Let's talk about it!
We apologize for the audio issues that start about halfway through. We went to seminary, not a technical school, so we do not know why that issue occurs nor how to fix it.
Have you ever wondered why you believe in Jesus? Where did your faith come from? In this episode Jeff and Collin briefly discuss the “Calvinist” understanding of where faith comes from and then move to talk about the substitutionary death of Christ for sinners.
The covenant of works was broken and sinners stand in need of reconciliation. Who will mediate between God and man? In other words, as the guys recently discussed covenant theology, who is the substance of the covenant of grace? On this episode Jeff and Collin discuss who Jesus is as our mediator.
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” 1 Tim. 2:5-6
What’s up with the one command given to Adam and Eve in the garden and why do you personally feel like you just can never measure up? On this episode Jeff and Collin discuss the architectural structure to the whole Bible: covenant theology. Specifically, they discuss what is the covenant of works and what is the covenant grace.
Have you ever wondered if the world has always been as dark as it is? Have you ever wondered if the darkness will ever break to light? The creation is account in Gen. 1-2 tells us about the true legend of the world before the fall and points us to look forward to life after sin is done away with.
Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com.
What is the Bible? Knowing what is the Bible is incredibly liberating. On this episode Jeff and Collin discuss what the Bible is, highlight common errors in how we view the Bible, and emphasize the dangerous roads those errors lead us down.
We did not grow up in the "infant baptism” world. So it’s interesting that we recently hosted an event at our church, Redeemer Waco, on infant baptism. A local Christian baptist pastor, Drake Osborn from Grace Church, came in to explain his position in favor of “believers-only baptism” (in opposition to infant baptism). Jeff then presented our church’s position in favor of baptizing believers and their infants, giving everyone a clear understanding of both sides. You can find the whole event recording here. This episode is a follow up, including some areas where Jeff and Collin see holes or missteps in the opposing argument.
Why care about doctrine? Why can’t I just walk with Jesus and not stress out about (dry) doctrine? Why can’t I just let the Spirit lead me and not worry so much about technical theology? These are great questions that drive us to figure out why doctrine, and really the Bible, matters so much in our personal relationship with Jesus as we walk by the Spirit.
Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
On this episode the guys discuss what has been going on on the ground at their church the past two years. Redeemer Waco and most churches have had to walk through multiple cataclysmic events in a very short amount of time. Some have probably imploded, some have probably split, and some have maybe come out stronger. But everyone has learned something about themselves.
On this episode the guys talk about the joy, comfort, hope, and encouragement we have in knowing the doctrines they have recently been discussing about God’s sovereignty in salvation.
Have you heard of the theological acronym "TULIP"? If you're familiar with the "L" in TULIP, it stands for "limited" atonement. What in the world is that referring to, is it even a good term, and how is the message of the atonement encouraging? Let's talk about it.
What is the world is election in the Bible? Or predestination? Or God’s foreknowledge? We know those words are in the Bible but what are they talking about? On this episode the guys discuss what election is and a bit about how to think about it personally.
Some questions are hard to ask. They carry a weight of terror. "Can I lose my salvation?" is one of those questions. On this episode the guys open by talking a bit about joy and then answer whether or not we can lose our salvation.
John 10:28-30 "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”
Rom. 8:30 "And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
Jude 1:24 "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy..."
How sinful are we? Are we basically good but just do bad things? If Jesus left salvation up to us, would we ever choose him? "Total depravity" is about these kinds of questions and more. On this episode the guys tackle a tough theological topic: the nature of our sinfulness and how exactly we come to faith in Jesus in the first place.
What is marriage all about? What holds a marriage together? On this episode the guys just touch on the foundation of a marriage and how we can be intentional in a healthy marriage.
What is God really like? We naturally assume God is angry. That makes sense. But even Christians, who know God is gracious, struggle to know his deepest heart. We think we are saved based on the technicality of Jesus and God has grown tired of us and if He could, He’d take it all back. So, what is God’s deepest heart towards you? Let’s talk about it.
Find all episodes of The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
Want some broad pastoral advice on dating? On this episode the guys discuss, generally, the process of dating, what you're looking for, what might not really matter, and more.
A while back Dr. John Piper put out an article critiquing some ideas and notions about “preaching Christ”. This matters for the normal Christian because it determines what kind of sermons you should be listening to. The article argues that preaching ought to make a “beeline from the cross”. What does this mean and why does it really, really matter? Because the article seems to miss the central focus of the Bible. Let’s talk about.
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On this episode the guys reflect on Sunday’s sermon because there’s great value in intentionally chewing on the sermon you heard Sunday. They consider how the message of justification heals us and tease what’s to come for this Sunday’s sermon and how it relates to the popular podcast on the rise and fall of Mars Hill Church.
Find all episodes of The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
When was the last time you asked, from the depths of your soul, “God, where are you? Have you forgotten me? Do you even hear me anymore?” When was the last time you said with this psalmist, “Why have you forgotten me?" Let's talk about it.
On this episode the guys review Rudy’s BBQ, riff on a popular article going around, The Six Way Fracturing of Evangelicalism, and consider how the Gospel holds us together.
Rate and review the podcast and find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
You’ve possibly never heard of the distinction between the Law and the Gospel but I bet I can convince you it matters to you. On this episode let’s talk about how vital it is to understand the Law and the Gospel and pull a ton from Martin Luther’s Commentary On Galatians.
Rate and review the podcast and find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
Jeff and Collin review Magnolia Table, discuss what they think is at the bottom of so much church division today, including why pastors and members alike are dropping out, and reflect on a quote from Martin Luther that you need to hear.
Rate and review the podcast and find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
What is CRT? You keep hearing about it but may have no idea what it is. It is worth having a grasp on because of its influence on the modern social justice movement. So, let’s talk about it by way of summarizing and responding to the book Critical Race Theory: An Introduction.
If you are a Christian, how should you think about the ideas of the modern social justice movement or “wokeness”? On this concluding episode twelve main points are covered to consider wokeness from a biblical perspective.
This episode is a part of a series answering 4 major questions:
What does wokenness believe about race and racism in the US? (Parts 1-3).
What does wokenness want you to do? (Part 4)
Is this movement reasonable, whether you’re a Christian or not? (Part 5)
How should Christians in particular think about this movement? (Part 6)
Find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
Whether you are a Christian or not, how should you think about the reasoning of the modern social justice movement (or “wokeness”)? On this episode the assumptions, reinterpretations, faulty logic, and contradictions of wokeness are all considered. We can all agree that racism is evil. But where many disagree is that we ought to assume it's everywhere, reinterpret everything through a lens of racism, and think illogically and contradict ourself in the process.
This episode is a part of a series answering 4 major questions:
What does wokenness believe about race and racism in the US? (Parts 1-3).
What does wokenness want you to do? (Part 4)
Is this movement reasonable, whether you’re a Christian or not? (Part 5)
How should Christians in particular think about this movement? (Part 6)
Find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
Check out the corresponding blog here.
What does it mean to be an “antiracist”? If you adopt the worldview of the modern social justice (woke) movement, what are you being called to actually do? It’s not quite what you’d guess based on the term alone.
This episode is Part 4 of a podcast series that answers 4 major questions:
What does wokenness believe about race and racism in the US? (Parts 1-3).
What does wokenness want you to do? What does it mean to be an antiracist? (Part 4)
Is this movement reasonable, whether you’re a Christian or not? (Part 5)
How should Christians in particular think about this movement? (Part 6)
Find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
On this episode the guys talk about common misunderstandings of the parable of the Good Samaritan and the principal purpose of the story, offer a book review of Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham, and Jeff teases his upcoming sermon on the real reason we should pray.
00:00 The Good Samaritan 10:24 Fault Lines Book Review 25:19 Upcoming Sermon Teaser
Find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
What does being “woke” mean? What does the modern social justice movement believe, particularly about race and racism in the US? If there is one thing that makes sense to you concerning this conversation it is that maybe nothing makes sense. If you are curious to know what the modern social justice movement believes about race and racism in America, this is the podcast series for you. In the first three episodes Collin explains what the leading voices in this movement are saying, pulling directly from top books like Color of Compromise (Jemar Tisby), White Fragility (Robin DiAngelo), and How To Be An Anti-Racist (Ibram Kendi).
This podcast series will answer 4 major questions:
What does wokenness believe about race and racism in the US? (Parts 1-3).
What does wokenness want you to do? (Parts TBD)
Is this movement reasonable, whether you’re a Christian or not? (Parts TBD)
How should Christians in particular think about this movement? (Parts TBD)
Find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
What does being “woke” mean? What does the modern social justice movement believe, particularly about race and racism in the US? If there is one thing that makes sense to you concerning this conversation it is that maybe nothing makes sense. If you are curious to know what the modern social justice movement believes about race and racism in America, this is the podcast series for you. In the first three episodes Collin explains what the leading voices in this movement are saying, pulling directly from top books like Color of Compromise (Jemar Tisby), White Fragility (Robin DiAngelo), and How To Be An Anti-Racist (Ibram Kendi).
This podcast series will answer 4 major questions:
What does wokenness believe about race and racism in the US? (Parts 1-3).
What does wokenness want you to do? (Parts TBD)
Is this movement reasonable, whether you’re a Christian or not? (Parts TBD)
How should Christians in particular think about this movement? (Parts TBD)
Find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
What does being “woke” mean? What does the modern social justice movement believe, particularly about race and racism in the US? If there is one thing that makes sense to you concerning this conversation it is that maybe nothing makes sense. If you are curious to know what the modern social justice movement believes about race and racism in America, this is the podcast series for you. In the first three episodes Collin explains what the leading voices in this movement are saying, pulling directly from top books like Color of Compromise (Jemar Tisby), White Fragility (Robin DiAngelo), and How To Be An Anti-Racist (Ibram Kendi).
This podcast series will answer 4 major questions:
What does wokenness believe about race and racism in the US? (Parts 1-3).
What does wokenness want you to do? (Parts TBD)
Is this movement reasonable, whether you’re a Christian or not? (Parts TBD)
How should Christians in particular think about this movement? (Parts TBD)
Find all episodes from The Good News Cast wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
On this episode Jeff and Collin introduce a new way episodes will play out each week. Each episode will now include differing segments. This week, the guys give another local BBQ review, talk about some of the nuts and bolts (the “sweat” of the text) of the upcoming Sunday’s sermon text, the idea of "changing the world", and the need for rest as Christians.
Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
We’re back! In this introduction to this next season of podcasts we give some quick summer highlights, a local BBQ review, and Jeff talks a bit about why he is preaching on the (actual) character of God and the importance of the books of Judges and Galatians in our culture today.
Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com!
There are many reasons people want to leave a church and/or should leave a church. When does an issue rise to the level of justifying leaving a church? This is a big question that may require a lot of thought and counsel. In this final part of this series the guys begin to tackle this subject.
This series is about how to pick a church. How do you pick a church, thrive at a local church, and when is it appropriate to leave a church? These are questions that press and weigh on many Christians, so let's talk about it.
Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
No big deal but Jeff's book just dropped, so let's talk about it and how it helps non-preachers and preachers! We need more than ever to be spoken back to life again. Our endless forms of self-activation in the church and culture today have proven to do little more than exhaust us, make us anxious, and ultimately disappoint and depress us. Despite our impressive effort, preaching has not escaped this prison of self-entanglement. Snoozing in the pew is now the good ol' days as more and more people report a pathological aversion to preaching. Perhaps there is a common thread--leaving Jesus behind. Leaving Jesus behind is the broken pattern of every human heart, even the preacher's. The Gospel Arc preaching model seeks to take Jesus with you in preaching. It is preaching that experiences Jesus with the Bible. Practically, the Gospel Arc helps biblical communicators discover and display the "Textual Jesus" from Genesis to Revelation, thereby unleashing divine energies to wake up the snoozer and finally electrify the self-activator. Taking Jesus with you in preaching changes everything. Even preachers. "Can these bones live?" God probes the preacher. Suffering from the inability to maintain a ministry, the preacher gives a lame non-answer. "Preach to bones!" God startles the preacher. As he does, stranger things happen. The bones live (Ezek 37:1-14).
Buy The Gospel Arc Here
Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
Let’s say you had a bunch of churches that all had solid foundational beliefs but you could only evaluate a couple things at each church before choosing to plant down at one. What would you evaluate? In Part 5 Jeff and Collin talk about a church’s orientation towards community and mission. Next week the guys will conclude this series talking about when and how to leave a church.
This series is about how to pick a church. How do you pick a church, thrive at a local church, and when is it appropriate to leave a church? These are questions that press and weigh on many Christians, so let's talk about it.
Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
Let’s say you had a bunch of churches that all had solid foundational beliefs but you could only evaluate a couple things at each church before choosing to plant down at one. What would you evaluate? In Part 4 Jeff and Collin begin to talk about a church’s worship, community, and mission. This series is about how to pick a church. How do you pick a church, thrive at a local church, and when is it appropriate to leave a church? These are questions that press and weigh on many Christians, so let's talk about it.
Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
Let’s say you had a bunch of churches that all had solid foundational beliefs but you could only evaluate one thing at each church before choosing to plant down at one. What would you evaluate? In Part 3 Jeff and Collin answer that question. This series is about how to pick a church. How do you pick a church, thrive at a local church, and when is it appropriate to leave a church? These are questions that press and weigh on many Christians, so let's talk about it.
Find all episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
How do you pick a church? How do you thrive at a local church? And when is it appropriate to leave a church? These are questions that press and weigh on many Christians, so let's talk about it. In Part 2 Collin discusses in more detail what it means for the Gospel to be the “thing” at a church.
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How do you pick a church? How do you thrive at a local church? And when is it appropriate to leave a church? These are questions that press and weigh on many Christians, so let's talk about it. In Part 1 Jeff and Collin discuss the big thing a church should be about.
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If the Bible is all about Jesus, covenant theology tells us the story about Jesus. It shows how the whole Bible is one story, all about Jesus’ salvation for you. In this episode Jeff talks about the message of Gen. 1-2 and the covenant of works. The guys also review a local cookie from a sandwich shop that makes epic sandwiches.
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Covenant theology explains…reality. It shows how the whole Bible is one story, all about Jesus’ salvation for you. Covenant theology helps you understand the difference between the Law and the Gospel and why people like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David are such a big deal. In Part 3 Jeff and Collin review a cookie (finally!) talk about the covenant of redemption and the love of the Father in sending the Son.
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While it may sound abstract, covenant theology helps explain how the whole Bible is one story, all about Jesus. Covenant theology helps you understand the difference between the Law and the Gospel and why people like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David are such a big deal. In Part 2 Jeff and Collin get a bit more specific in discussing covenants made in the Bible and how it all drives to Christ.
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What in the world is "covenant theology"? Far from being some out of touch, abstract theology, covenant theology answers questions like:
How does the Bible all fit together? Is it unified? How does the Old Testament and New Testament fit together? What's up with the one (seemingly random) command given to Adam in the garden in Genesis? How is the Bible all about Jesus, exactly?
Questions like these are answered in this 2-part series on covenantal theology.
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What a year. What a time to be alive. 2020 has been one for the books. COVID and the (still ongoing) election have shaken individuals and churches, revealing the strength of our hope in Christ and our great needs for loving relationships in the church (community) and outside the church (mission).
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There is a lot being said and a lot to talk about concerning race, racism, and what the Bible has to say about all of it. Let's keep the conversation going in Part 5 of 6.
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There is a lot being said and a lot to talk about concerning race, racism, and what the Bible has to say about all of it. Let's keep the conversation going.
Find all episodes where you listen to podcasts as well as at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
There is a lot being said and a lot to talk about concerning race, racism, and what the Bible has to say about all of it. Let's keep the conversation going.
Find all episodes where you listen to podcasts as well as at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
In Part 3, Jeff and Collin continue to discuss the idea of identity, finding our identity in our race, and using race-identity to solve the problem of racism. Is a greater focus on race as it concerns skin-color the solution to racism? As always, we'd love to hear from you! Reach out via www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com with questions, comments, agreements, and disagreements.
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In Part 2, the guys talking about whether or not we should identity ourselves with our race (among other things). What does the Bible say about finding our identity in something like our race? Should we find our identity in our skin color? What could be the problems, if any, with doing so? Questions like these and more are addressed.
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The world is on fire when it comes to race and racism. For every one answer we all have 10 questions. And each answer seems to be either incomprehensible, destined for failure, or unbiblical. So, how should Christians think about race, racism, and the Gospel? Jeff and Collin are going to tackle that broad question and many specific questions in the coming weekly episodes. These episodes will cover race, race-identity, racism, systemic racism/oppression, police, the official organization called Black Lives Matter, and a lot more. The goal is to answer this broad question again and again: What does the Bible say about this or that?
Submit questions at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
Find all episodes on iTunes, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts, as well as at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com
Have you heard Christians use the phrase "total depravity" to talk about sin? What in the world does that mean, is it biblical, and does it help us see God's grace all the more? The guys talk about this and more in Part 2 of this series as they work through the theological acronym TULIP. Let's talk about the T (total depravity) in TULIP.
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The bigger your understanding of sin, the bigger your understanding of grace. The grace of God for us is bigger than we realize and what "TULIP" stands for helps us see that. Whether you know what TULIP stands for or not, we hope this brief series will bring wonder to your heart and mind.
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Suffering strikes us all. We hurt, we lose, we depress, we doubt, and then we question. So, what do we do in suffering? What do we hope for? Jeff and Collin discuss the reality of suffering and how we can pray and even have joy in the midst of it.
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Christians talk a lot about the cross of Jesus. People everywhere put up crosses in their homes and where them around their necks. But what about the resurrection of Jesus? What do we think about the resurrection? On this episode, Jeff and Collin review a Truly (lemonade flavor) and then talk about the significance and present power of the resurrection for you.
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The hosts of this podcast, Jeff and Collin, serve a local church full-time in Waco, TX (Redeemer Waco). The church was planted 20 years ago and has grown to become a home church for around 300 or so people. This podcast discusses the “new era” Redeemer is in and is therefore an episode pretty specific to Redeemer. However, we hope you still benefit from it whether you are a part of Redeemer or not, but forgive us for how specific it is to our local church.
Different churches operate differently according to their size and this is normal. Redeemer’s aim, no matter its size, remains the same. However, the church is moving into a new era of how it operates to better serve its body and the community around it, to better love each other and glorify God.
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What you believe about how God works in the life of Christians will either lead you to spiritual sanity or spiritual insanity. For example, if God hates sin and you are called to be holy, what do you do when you seem to be more sinful than ever, even as a Christian? On this episode Jeff and Collin discuss how God might just be at work even when we see how sinful we are, as Christians.
Due to COVID-19 this podcast was recorded via a conference call, so forgive us for subpar audio quality.
EPISODE #38 VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO0VgtKp_Ykk24P9piJnnPg
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The church has been given a mission, so every church must value the mission. What exactly is the mission? And what does it mean not only for individual Christians but local churches as a whole? In this conclusion the guys talk about how the mission of the church affects not only individual lifestyles but even the music of a local church.
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This podcast series, "The Church Is About...", covers what the church out to be about and what Jeff and Collin hope their home church is about. And it is in a time of crisis during this time of COVID-19 that our vision and values show how important and crucial they are, especially the value of community.
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What is exactly is the "gospel"? We have been discussing it so much it is time to clarify exactly what we are talking about when we are talking about the "gospel". In this brief episode Collin discusses the events and message of the Gospel.
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This podcast series is about what the church should be about and what Jeff and Collin, who serve Redeemer Waco in Waco, TX, hope Redeemer is all about. Today, Collin briefly tackles why the church is so values the Gospel and what that means.
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In Part 2 of this series the guys talk about what it means to be a church that is fixed and flexible. The reality is, the Bible tells us certain things are fixed and not up for debate. Other things, however, are flexible and we have freedom to use wisdom in certain methods of how we "do" church.
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What is church all about, really? While every local church can have differences regarding specific vision in specific times and places, there are core realities that should mark a church. In this series, Jeff and Collin discuss what they hope marks the local church they serve in Texas. In Part one, the guys discuss having a grand, overarching Gospel-vision.
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We know, we know...this sounds weird. A podcast about connecting with God that talks about the Lord's Supper and Baptism? What in the world is that about? Well, give this episode a listen and you might be surprised how God uses the two New Testament sacraments, the Lord's Supper and Baptism, to give us grace and connect with us.
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Christians want to connect with God. They want to know how to connect with God on a daily basis and they want to know they are in fact connecting with God. In this series the guys are going to talk about the ways God connects with us, according to the Bible. In Part 1, they discuss a topic you wouldn’t think would be the first topic in a series like this: preaching and sermons.
How do Christians approach the new year, each year? Well, apparently the guys kicked it off with a podcast that didn't get posted until March.
In Part 2 of a series on prayer and the Lord's Prayer, the guys discuss further why it is so hard to pray. What beliefs do we have that hinders our prayer life and how does the Lord's Prayer help?
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Why is it so hard to pray? Our hearts are often cold, our minds wander, and we wonder if we will ever have a solid prayer life. On this episode, the guys review a famous Silos Baking Co. cookie, discuss the difficulty of prayer, and begin to work through the wonders of the Lord's Prayer.
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The better question about spiritual gifts is not, "Do you believe the Spirit gives gifts to Christians?" The better question is, "What gifts do you think the Bible says the Spirit is still giving out today?" On this edition of Devil's Advocate, the guys try to highlight some misconceptions about views on spiritual gifts and what gifts are still being given today.
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Welcome to our Advent podcast series! On this episode, the guys talk about the virgin birth as recorded in Matthew 1:18-25, an event in which God steps into our nothingness. Are you a nobody from nowhere? Good news! God loves to rescue nobodies.
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Welcome to the first edition of Devil's Advocate where one of the guys gets peppered by a devil's advocate on a tough topic. Today, Jeff gets peppered on infant baptism and he was not prepped ahead of time. So let's ask, why on earth would a church baptize an infant?
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The Song of Solomon emphasizes the joys and highs of love, marriage, and sex but it doesn't even remotely shy away from the difficulties. The reality is, when two sinners fall in love, conflict is inevitable. So, let's discuss what the Song of Solomon has to say about the conflicts.
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In Part 1 of Love, Marriage, and Sex in Song of Solomon (a 2-part podcast series), Jeff and Collin discuss some major themes in the Song of Solomon. Jeff is concluding a preaching series through the book, which is a fascinating book of the Bible as it addresses head on the realities that face us head on--love, marriage, union, sex, relational conflict, reconciliation and more.
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After a few weeks off, Jeff and Collin wrap up a series on sanctification and how Christians change. The big idea of sanctification is to not leave the big idea of Christianity. Don’t move on from living by faith in Jesus. He alone has the power to change hearts.
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In Part 4, Jeff and Collin discuss the Spirit-filled life as it is described in Romans 8. Contrary to popular opinion, the Bible does not send us on a journey to discover the secret of the Spirit-filled life; it doesn't offer steps to unlock the Spirit. But it does offer a Spirit-filled life. So, how do we have it and what does it look like?
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In Part 1, Jeff and Collin discussed misconceptions about sanctification and in Part 2 they covered gospel-powered sanctification. In this episode, the guys talk about the reality of remaining sin in the Christian life, why sin remains, and Romans 7.
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Last week Jeff and Collin talked about major misconceptions about sanctification, touching on a moralistic or antinomian understanding of sanctification. This week, Jeff and Collin zero in more thoroughly on what gospel-driven, gospel-shaped sanctification is. In other words, what does the finished work of Jesus Christ have to do with change in the Christian life? Up next week, Jeff and Collin will tackle the reality of remaining sin in the life of the Christian.
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What should you expect in your Christian life? Should you expect to still sin, struggle with sin, or defeat all sin? Should you expect to change and grow? And if so, what part do you play in changing? Welcome to our new series on sanctification where we will discuss all of that and a lot more. To kick everything off, let’s discuss common misconceptions about sanctification, the consequences of believing these misconceptions, and the good news Romans 6 brings to the discussion on sanctification. Find all episodes at www.goodnewsnotgoodadvice.com, on iTunes, and on Spotify!
It’s good to have Jeff back in the mix as we talk all things summer, do a Hewitt, TX cookie review, and discuss the famous story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10. The story of Martha and Mary is often seen as one about personality types or how to behave when Jesus shows up to your home. But the story is one about living by the Law or living by the Gospel.
In Part 6 of a series on the charismatic world, Collin explores what he saw attracting himself and many others into charismatic churches and what made it (almost) impossible to leave. If so many people agreed with Collin's concerns, why was no one doing anything about it or leaving?
What does the charismatic world teach about the Holy Spirit? What kind of things go on that are attributed to the Holy Spirit? In this episode, Collin pulls back the curtain on what he saw and experienced regarding the Holy Spirit in his church experiences. Collin addresses and analyzes things like miracles, hearing God, tongues, and prophecy and the overall focus of the charismatic world.
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Is Christianity all about you and your love for Jesus or Him and His love for us? In this episode, Collin shares his experience in the charismatic world and the predominate focus of that world. While Jesus was always talked about, somehow the ultimate focus seemed to always be about on Christians and our faithfulness, rather than Jesus and His faithfulness. This amounted to a crushing charismatic-moralism.
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The charismatic world that Collin was a part of heavily emphasized the idea of hearing God outside of the Bible, while the Bible itself was often sidelined and overlooked. So, this episode of Welcome To The Charismatic World explores what is taught in charismatic circles concerning hearing God’s voice, and why, and all of the mess and problems that ensue.
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A key criteria to examine any church is determining how the Bible is viewed and handled. In this episode, Collin discusses the major issue he had with the charismatic world he was a part of about 10 years ago: how the Bible was handled. More often than not, the Bible was handled quickly and loosely, implying everything being taught and practiced was supported by the Bible. So, while it seemed like the Bible was the driving, shaping force in the church in all teaching and preaching, it was being sidelined.
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In Part 1 of a series on the charismatic church movement, Collin shares how he entered the charismatic world and why he left. If you are in the charismatic church movement or thinking about joining it but have questions about it, this series is for you.
In this conclusion to our series on the Law and Gospel, we focus on the Gospel and how it is distinct from the Law. While the Law commands, the Gospel only gives. While the Law convicts, the Gospel only comforts. We also touch on how the Gospel can be distorted by adding into it the message of law.
Now that we are saved by grace alone, does the Law still call us, as Christians, to be certain kind of people and live in a certain kind of way? Or as Christians are we now a law to ourselves? In Part 3 of this series on the Law and the Gospel, Jeff and Collin discuss whether or not the Law still has authority in the Christian’s life.
Have you ever wondered why some of the Bible seems like really Good News and some of the Bible causes you to feel really guilty? Has that ever confused you? This podcast series on “Law and Gospel” dives into that reality and in this episode Jeff and Collin discuss one of the main purposes of God’s Law is: to drive us to Jesus. It might surprise you but the Law was not ultimately given to us because we can keep it. It was given to us because we do not and cannot keep it. But Someone else did keep it, for us.
If you have never heard anyone talk about the "law and Gospel" or "the distinction between the Law and Gospel" or you just want to dive into what the Law is, what the Gospel is, and how they are distinct, this series on Law and Gospel is for you! On this episode, Jeff and Collin discuss what the Law is, what the Gospel is, and how they are distinct, and how keeping them distinct means Good News for you.
If the Bible is all about Jesus, then church is all about Jesus. But all too often we make good things ultimate things and push Jesus to the sideline. On this episode Jeff and Collin discuss what it means for the church that the Bible is all about Jesus and whether or not church should be all about things like mission, community, and the like.
What is the Bible all about? Is it about rules? Is it about you? Is it about Jesus? On this episode Jeff and Collin discuss radically different ways one might view the message of the Bible and the results of each.
On this episode Jeff and Collin discuss what exactly they mean by "Good News, not good advice", and their understanding of what the whole Bible is about.