Podcasts by The Wednesday Conversation
A weekly conversation about how the gospel of Jesus Christ connects to the questions and issues of everyday life. Hosted by the leaders of Coram Deo Church in Omaha, Nebraska.
Further podcasts by Coram Deo Church Community
Podcast on the topic Christentum
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Episode 457: The Christian Family | Chapter 10 from 2023-12-13T07:00
In the final 2023 episode of The Wednesday Conversation, we discuss the final chapter of The Christian Family. Herman Bavinck writes about what he sees on the horizon for how society and government...
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Episode 456: A Less Prominent Atheist Becomes a Christian (David Sundman’s Story) from 2023-12-06T07:00
A few weeks ago, we shared the conversion story of prominent atheist Ayaan Hirsi Ali. This week, we want to highlight the story of another former atheist, Coram Deo pastoral resident David Sundman....
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From the Archives | Episode 455: A Conversation With James K.A. Smith from 2023-11-29T07:00
After a weekend of teaching in Omaha in 2017, Christian philosopher Dr. James K.A. Smith sat down with the pastors at Coram Deo to talk about his life, his work, and his calling.
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Episode 454: A Prominent Atheist Becomes a Christian from 2023-11-22T07:00
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is well-known in intellectual circles and was one of the most prominent atheists in the world. Once a devout Muslim, she became an atheist after the 9/11 attacks. Even more recently...
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Episode 453: TWC Commentary | The Rhetoric of Decolonization from 2023-11-15T07:00
The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to be a central, global focus. One troubling aspect of the situation is the justification for Hamas’ terrorism that has been offered from all corners...
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Episode 452: Revival Among Gen Z from 2023-11-08T07:00
Gen Z (1997 to 2012) is a generation marked by digital savviness and infinite connection, but also profound loneliness. And in the wake of the Asbury revival last year and the end of the COVID-19 p...
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Episode 451: The Future of the Church from 2023-11-01T06:00
What’s next for the church? In August, Mere Orthodoxy editor-in-chief Jake Meador laid out a vision for the future of the church in America, combining cultural observations with insights from recen...
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Episode 450: Israel, Hamas,&Biblical Prophecy from 2023-10-25T06:00
On Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Since that day, the unfolding conflict has been the focus of newspapers, political pundits, social influencers, and concerned ci...
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Episode 449: The Christian Family | Chapter 9 from 2023-10-18T06:00
"One who destroys the family is digging away the moral foundations of society," writes Herman Bavinck in Chapter 9 of The Christian Family. In this installment of Third Wednesday Theology, we explo...
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Episode 448: How to Show Up to a Funeral from 2023-10-11T06:00
The week of this recording, we officiated three funerals. Funerals can feel unnatural and even uncomfortable, and many people find them difficult to navigate. But the gospel frees us to show up wit...
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Episode 447: Does God Heal? from 2023-10-04T06:00
If you’ve walked through a season of physical suffering, you’ve probably had someone say they are “praying healing over you” or even “claiming healing for you.” In today’s episode, we explain what ...
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Episode 446: Does De-Churching Begin at Home? from 2023-09-27T06:00
Weeks ago, we talked about The Great Dechurching (ep. 439) - the downward trend of church involvement in America over the past 20 years. In a new article, Lyman Stone suggests this de-churching pro...
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Episode 445: The Christian Family | Chapters 7&8 from 2023-09-20T06:00
Is it nature or nurture? Herman Bavinck weighs in on the age-old question about human formation in this installment of Third Wednesday Theology. In chapters 7 and 8 of The Christian Family, Bavinck...
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Episode 444: Millennium Mail Bag from 2023-09-13T06:00
Our digital mail bag was full of questions about Revelation 20 after our “Four Views on the Millennium” conversation (Episode 441)! In this follow-up episode, we aim to answer questions like, “What...
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Episode 443: How Should the Church Do Mercy Ministry? from 2023-09-06T06:00
One of our listeners posed a question spurred by the ministry of Charles Spurgeon in London. By 1884, Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle was running 66 ben...
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From the Archives | Episode 442: Does God Change His Mind? from 2023-08-30T06:00
In this episode from 2017, we discuss Jonah chapter 3, where God relents from destroying Nineveh. By the end of the story, the people repent, and God does ...
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Episode 441: Four Views on the Millennium from 2023-08-23T06:00
A few listeners have asked us to discuss the millennial reign of Christ as taught in Revelation 20. Historically, this has been a point of debate and even ...
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Episode 440: The Christian Family | Chapters 5&6 from 2023-08-16T06:00
We continue our discussion about Herman Bavinck's book The Christian Family during this Third Wednesday Theology conversation. In this e...
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Episode 439: The De-Churching of America from 2023-08-09T06:00
40 million Americans have stopped attending church in the past 25 years. This represents the largest concentrated change in church attendance in American h...
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Episode 438: The Problem of Scientism from 2023-08-02T06:00
In a recent article published in Harper's magazine, Pepperdine professor Jason Blakely writes about the impact of scientism—the overextension of ...
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Episode 437: Summer Check-In from 2023-07-26T06:00
Part of being a joyful Christian is being a joyful human. So every once in a while, we take a break from theological and cultural topics to just talk about...
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Episode 436: Interview with Dr. James Eglinton from 2023-07-19T06:00
For the last three years, we've been discussing the work of Herman Bavinck on our Third Wednesday Theology episodes. This week, we're privileged to have Ba...
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Episode 435: TWC Commentary | The Limits of Liberalism from 2023-07-12T06:00
Freedom. Liberty. Rights. Democracy. These are the stock terms of our American political lexicon, and they come to us from the tradition known as liberalism. Whether right, center, or left, we’re a...
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Episode 434: TWC Commentary | Deconstructing Judith Butler from 2023-07-05T06:00
Judith Butler is perhaps the most important academic professor you've never heard of. A book she wrote in 1990, asserting that sex and gender are both soci...
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Episode 377: Sin&Death from 2022-04-20T06:00
What's wrong with the world? This is the question that nearly every religion or belief system tries to answer. As Christians, we believe that sin is the an...
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Episode 376: Biblical Symbolism in John's Gospel from 2022-04-13T06:00
It's Holy Week & we're celebrating by bringing you a bonus episode! In this episode, Bob surveys some of the inter-textuality & symbolism in John's...
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Episode 375: Sports Betting from 2022-04-06T06:00
If you've watched a sporting event on tv lately, you've probably noticed an uptick in ads for sports betting apps. With apps like these growing in populari...
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Episode 374: From the Archives - Building Deep Community from 2022-03-30T06:00
In a world of shallow relationships, broken promises, and emotional disconnection, we discuss what it looks like for Christians to cultivate deep, formativ...
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Episode 373: The Origin, Essence,&Purpose of Man from 2022-03-16T06:00
What does it mean to be human? This is the question that Bavinck seeks to answer in chapter 12 of "The Wonderful Works of God." In this Third Wednesday The...
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Episode 372: The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism from 2022-03-02T07:00
As American culture has changed over the last 50-60 years, author Aaron Renn argues that we've moved from a "positive world" for Christianity to a "negativ...
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Episode 371: Creation&Providence from 2022-02-16T07:00
What does it mean that we live in a created world that is upheld by God at every moment? In this Third Wednesday Theology episode, we're in chapter 11 of "...
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Episode 370: Elite Evangelicals? from 2022-02-02T07:00
In a recent article titled "The Failure of Evangelical Elites," Carl Trueman critiques the idea of faithful presence as a viable missional strategy for Chr...
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Episode 369: The Divine Trinity from 2022-01-19T07:00
It's time for the first episode of Third Wednesday Theology in 2022! Listen in as we discuss chapter 10 of Herman Bavinck's "The Wonderful Works of God." I...
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Episode 368: New Stuff for a New Year from 2022-01-05T07:00
Happy New Year! After a little year-end break we're back and easing into the new year talking about what we've been reading & watching recently.
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Episode 367: The Clash in Christian Journalism from 2021-12-01T07:00
The longtime editor-in-chief at World Magazine, Marvin Olasky, recently announced that he is stepping down. His stated reasons point to a broader shift in ...
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Episode 366: Meta Church from 2021-11-24T07:00
Facebook recently changed its name to "Meta" and announced its plans to create an immersive virtual universe. In this episode, we discuss the ways a virtua...
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Episode 365: Interview with Doug Logan (Part 2) from 2021-11-17T07:00
In part 2 of this special episode, Bob interviews Doug Logan, Associate Director of Acts 29 and President of Grimké Seminary, to hear about his journey to ...
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Episode 364: Interview with Doug Logan (Part 1) from 2021-11-10T07:00
In a special episode of the Wednesday Conversation, Bob Thune sits down with Doug Logan, Associate Director of Acts 29 and President of Grimké Seminary, to...
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Episode 363: The Gospel&Your Dinner Table from 2021-11-03T06:00
In the busyness of life, it's become perfectly normal for people to eat their meals in the car, in front of a screen, or maybe even completely alone. In a ...
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Episode 362: Instagram Listener Feedback from 2021-10-27T06:00
A few episodes ago we talked about Instagram's negative effects on the mental health of teenage girls... and our listeners offered a lot of feedback. In th...
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Episode 361: The Being of God from 2021-10-20T06:00
Is it possible to truly know God? This is the question Herman Bavinck has us pondering in Chapter 9 of "The Wonderful Works of God." In this episode, we di...
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Episode 360: Instagram Has a Problem from 2021-10-13T06:00
Recently a whistleblower at Facebook leaked internal documents & research on the use of Instagram & its damaging effects on the mental health of te...
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Episode 359: Reading Scripture Christo-centrically from 2021-10-06T06:00
What does it mean to read the Scriptures Christo-centrically? Do we need to find the death & resurrection of Jesus in every text? In this episode, we b...
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Episode 358: From the Archives - Revival&Revivalism from 2021-09-29T06:00
Have you ever wondered how evangelicalism has gotten to where it is today? In this episode, Bob summarizes Iain Murray's book, "Revival & Revivalism," ...
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Episode 357: Harvard's Atheist Chaplain from 2021-09-22T06:00
At the end of August, Harvard University announced the appointment of a new head chaplain - who also happens to be an atheist. What should we make of this?...
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Episode 356: Scripture&Confession from 2021-09-15T06:00
It's Third Wednesday Theology & we're in chapter 8 of Herman Bavinck's "The Wonderful Works of God." In this episode, we explore why creeds & confe...
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Episode 355: The Gospel&Relational Maturity from 2021-09-08T06:00
How does the gospel help us grow in relational maturity and why is it important? In this episode, Dusty shares helpful categories and characteristics of wh...
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Episode 354: The Fallen Condition Focus from 2021-09-01T06:00
We want to help you become a better reader of the Bible! And one helpful tool is the "Fallen Condition Focus," a concept introduced by Bryan Chappell in hi...
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Episode 353: Big Tech vs. Religious Freedom from 2021-08-25T06:00
A recent article from the New York Times details how Facebook is beginning to partner with churches to create better online experiences. In this episode, w...
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Episode 352: The Holy Scriptures (PLUS College Football Bonus Coverage!) from 2021-08-18T06:00
Why do we believe Scripture is the Word of God? It's time for Third Wednesday Theology, and this week we're discussing Chapter 7 of Herman Bavinck's "The W...
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Episode 351: The Gospel&Grief from 2021-08-11T06:00
In 2020, Eric Tonjes lost his wife Elizabeth to cancer. She was 37 years old. On this episode, Eric joins us for an honest discussion about grief, hope, an...
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Episode 350: Christians&Club Sports from 2021-08-04T06:00
Club sports can become all-consuming for families with talented, athletic children. How should Christian parents think about and navigate this demanding sy...
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Episode 349: America's Friendship Recession from 2021-07-28T06:00
Recent data from the Survey Center on American Life found that close friendships are on the decline among Americans, especially among men. In this episode,...
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Episode 348: Special Revelation - Part 2 from 2021-07-21T06:00
It's time for Third Wednesday Theology! In this episode, we're discussing Chapter 6 of Herman Bavinck's 'The Wonderful Works of God' as it explores the con...
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Episode 347: The Mars Hill Podcast from 2021-07-14T06:00
With only 3 episodes released, a new podcast from Christianity Today called 'The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill' has found a wide audience. We’ve heard from ...
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Episode 346: The Doctrine of Hell from 2021-07-07T06:00
For some Christians, the doctrine of Hell is difficult to think about and understand, with many arguing that it's cruel and futile. In this episode, we dis...
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Episode 345: From the Archives - Heaven, Earth, & Hell from 2021-06-30T06:00
Many people struggle with the Bible’s teaching about hell. But could it be that our assumptions about hell are more cultural than biblical? On this week’s podcast, we engage with some of the quest...
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Episode 344: The Fracturing of American Evangelicalism from 2021-06-23T06:00
Over the past few years, it's become glaringly obvious that American Evangelicalism is more and more divided. In a recent article, Skyler Flowers & Michael Graham discuss what they call the "fractu...
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Episode 343: Special Revelation from 2021-06-16T06:00
It's time for Third Wednesday Theology! On the third Wednesday of each month we read & discuss a chapter from Herman Bavinck's “The Wonderful Works of God." In this episode, we discuss chapter 5 as...
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Episode 342: Exvangelicals from 2021-06-09T06:00
Why does it feel like more and more people are "deconstructing their faith" or identifying as "exvangelical?" What do these terms even mean? In this episode, we discuss the exvangelical phenomenon ...
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Episode 341: Counterfeit Institutions & the Church from 2021-06-02T06:00
In Episode 337 we discussed an article by Brad Edwards examining social media as a "counterfeit institution." Brad listened to that episode and reached out to talk further... and to take Chris up o...
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Episode 340: Pixelated Souls from 2021-05-26T06:00
In a recent article in First Things, Professors Jenna & Benjamin Storey suggest that modern people have become "pixelated souls." Our Western political system was built to help people navigate two ...
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Episode 339: The Value of General Revelation from 2021-05-19T06:00
On the third Wednesday of each month we read & discuss a chapter from Herman Bavinck's “The Wonderful Works of God." In this episode, we discuss chapter 4 as we continue to assess Bavinck's view of...
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Episode 338: Passing on the Faith from 2021-05-12T06:00
Christian parents desire their children to grow up to embrace the Christian faith. Sociologist Christian Smith has spent the last 20 years studying the religious practices of children & adolescents...
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Episode 337: Social Media as a Counterfeit Institution from 2021-05-05T06:00
Are social media platforms taking the place of more traditional cultural institutions? In a recent article at Mere Orthodoxy, Brad Edwards argues that they are... and that the implications are trou...
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Episode 336: The Decline in American Church Membership from 2021-04-28T06:00
A recent Gallup poll found that religious membership has fallen to 47% among adults in the United States, the lowest in over 80 years. In this episode, we unpack the data and discuss why it may act...
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Episode 335: General Revelation from 2021-04-21T06:00
What do we mean when we talk about general revelation and how we can know God through his creation? On this episode of Third Wednesday Theology, we dive into Chapter 3 of Herman Bavinck's "The Wond...
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Episode 334: Four Approaches to Race, Politics, & Gender from 2021-04-14T06:00
A recent TGC article by Kevin DeYoung provides some interesting observations about the fragmentation within the church when it comes to race, politics, & gender. In this episode, we discuss and eva...
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Episode 333: Plastic People in a Liquid World from 2021-04-07T06:00
Someone recently suggested the best way to read Carl Trueman's latest book is to begin with the last chapter first. In this episode, we take that advice! We explore the final pages of "The Rise & T...
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Episode 332: A Conversation with Dane Ortlund from 2021-03-31T06:00
Dane Ortlund, author of the widely acclaimed book "Gentle & Lowly," joins us on this episode to talk about his life and ministry. He explains how he came to write Gentle & Lowly and shares some of ...
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Episode 331: Stuff We're Into Right Now from 2021-03-24T06:00
In this episode, we're taking a little break from our usual podcast topics to catch up and answer the question: What have you been reading, watching, and listening to? Our answers run the gamut and...
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Episode 330: The Knowledge of God from 2021-03-17T06:00
It's time for Third Wednesday Theology. And in this episode, we're tackling Chapter 2 of Herman Bavinck's "The Wonderful Works of God." How do we know God? Bavinck asserts that knowing God is not m...
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Episode 329: Valuing Life from 2021-03-10T07:00
On this episode, we welcome special guest Toni Clarke, Executive Director of Assure Women's Center in Omaha. Toni joins us to talk about the state of the pro-life movement in America, and the key r...
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Episode 328: The Modern Self, Part 3 from 2021-03-03T07:00
As we continue to engage with Carl Trueman's new book "The Rise & Triumph of the Modern Self," we come to Nietzsche, Marx, and Darwin. In this episode, we discuss Trueman's suggestion that these th...
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Episode 327: Ravi Zacharias from 2021-02-24T07:00
The recent report of sexual misconduct by the late evangelical apologist Ravi Zacharias is horrifying and sad, and brings complicated feelings to those who were shaped & influenced by him. In this ...
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Episode 326: Man's Highest Good from 2021-02-17T07:00
It's time for "Third Wednesday Theology," where we devote the third Wednesday of each month to reading and discussing theology. Using Herman Bavinck's "The Wonderful Works of God" as our text, in t...
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Episode 325: The Book of Ruth from 2021-02-10T07:00
In this episode, we're joined by our friend & local area pastor Kyle McClellan, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on the book of Ruth. He helps us understand more fully the literary structure, im...
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Episode 324: The Modern Self, Part 2 from 2021-02-03T07:00
What do Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley, William Wordsworth, and William Blake have to do with the rise of the modern self? Carl Trueman suggests that they helped ...
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Episode 323: What Just Happened? from 2021-01-27T07:00
It's been almost 3 months since the U.S. presidential election... and things have been chaotically interesting, to say the least. In this episode, we look back on recent events and reflect on what ...
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Episode 322: The Wonderful Works of God from 2021-01-20T07:00
This year we're launching a new feature called "Third Wednesday Theology," where we devote the third Wednesday of each month to reading and discussing theology. We'll be using "The Wonderful Works ...
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Episode 321: Christian Nationalism? from 2021-01-13T07:00
Throughout the Trump era, we've been hearing more and more about the influence of "Christian nationalism." But what is that, exactly? And is the term precise enough to be meaningful? In this episod...
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Episode 320: From the Archives - The First 15 Minutes of Your Day from 2021-01-06T07:00
This is from an episode recorded in May of 2019.
What do you spend the first 15 minutes of your day doing? Looking at your phone? Hitting snooze over and over? Attending to your children's...
Episode 319: Third World Problems from 2020-12-30T07:00
The third world problems we discuss in this episode are probably not what you're thinking. Carl Trueman presents Philip Rieff’s concept of "third worlds” in his new book The Rise & Triumph of the M...
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Episode 318: The Gospel as a Father Movement from 2020-12-23T07:00
Various Christian movements tend to emphasize different aspects of Trinitarian theology - with most giving attention to the Son or the Holy Spirit. But could it be that we have under-emphasized the...
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Episode 317: From the Archives - Advent & Sabbath from 2020-12-16T07:00
This episode from the archives takes us all the way back to 2014 when we preached through the book of Isaiah. In this episode, we discuss the season of Advent, how and why we observe Advent, as we...
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Episode 316: From the Archives - Leadership that Lasts (with special guest Scotty Smith) from 2020-12-09T07:00
In this episode from the archives, we talk about leadership that endures and is future-oriented with special guest, Scotty Smith.
Recorded in May 2015.
Episode 315: The Cross & the Kingdom from 2020-12-02T07:00
Atonement and the Kingdom of God are two important themes in the bible that many theologians often disagree about. After reading 'The Crucified King' by Jeremy Treat, Coram Deo intern Travis Barret...
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Episode 314: Prudence in the Pandemic from 2020-11-25T07:00
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, how should we think about public health interventions? Some say our goal should be to prevent death at all costs. Others say we must calculate economic well-being. Phi...
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Episode 313: From the Archives - Rethinking Church & State from 2020-11-18T07:00
There couldn't possibly be any more from James K.A. Smith's "Awaiting the King" that we could talk about, right? Wrong. The idea of separation of church and state has caused many Christians to wear...
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Episode 312: Is Wokeness Winning? from 2020-11-11T07:00
The term "woke" has been around for a number of years and is becoming increasingly accepted throughout our culture. In this episode, we survey two articles that discuss whether the ideology of "wok...
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Episode 311: Walking with Jesus for the Long Haul from 2020-11-04T07:00
Life involves seasons of hardship and suffering as well as seasons of joy and blessing. Remaining a committed follower of Christ throughout these seasons can be difficult. In this episode, we talk ...
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Episode 310: Reverse Engineering Your Life from 2020-10-28T06:00
What kind of person do you want to be 10, 20, or even 30 years from now? What kind of changes would you need to make in your life now in order to become that person? As we see in the book of Eccles...
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Episode 309: Election 2020 from 2020-10-21T06:00
It comes along every 4 years, and every 4 years listeners ask us to record an episode about it. No, we're not talking about the Olympics; we're talking about the election. In this episode, we discu...
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Episode 308: Dueling Views of Anti-Racism from 2020-10-14T06:00
In a recent article at Public Discourse, Ben Peterson contrasts two differing views of "anti-racism." He argues that a robust debate between these two viewpoints is necessary and vital. In this epi...
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Episode 307: From the Archives - Intersectionality from 2020-10-07T06:00
We are revisiting an episode from April 2017 about the topic of Intersectionality. We will be back with a new episode next week!
A word you've likely never heard of is all the rage on coll...
Episode 306: Questioning Systemic Racism from 2020-09-30T06:00
Over the last four months, there have been many important conversations about the topic of race. As the culture's dialogue continues, it's important to understand and even question some of the con...
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Episode 305: The Q-Anon Conspiracy from 2020-09-23T06:00
As 2020 continues on its strange and tumultuous trajectory, you have likely noticed a conspiracy theory gaining traction among certain conservatives. In this episode, we discuss what the Q-Anon con...
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Episode 304: From the Archives - Children in Church from 2020-09-16T06:00
"Should children sit in church with their parents, or attend children's church?" A listener posed this question in a recent email. In this episode, we discuss how to best involve children in the li...
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Episode 303: A Right View of Pleasure from 2020-09-09T06:00
The book of Ecclesiastes might seem like a bit of a downer, but in reality, it's showing us how and why we ought to enjoy life. In this episode, we explore how Ecclesiastes seeks to give us a right...
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Episode 302: Why You Should Think More About Death from 2020-09-02T06:00
We are all going to die. The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us of this often. In this episode, we discuss the wisdom of living with the end in mind and how thinking about death can make life more ple...
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Episode 301: Remembering Harold Thune from 2020-08-26T06:00
Bob's grandfather recently passed away at the age of 100, leaving behind an enduring legacy. In this episode, Bob reflects on his grandfather's life - his time as a fighter pilot in WWII, his conve...
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Episode 300: Q&A - Formative Influences from 2020-08-19T06:00
In any relationship, it's always good to ask thoughtful questions that help you gain a better understanding of another's story. In this episode, we go around the table answering two questions about...
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Episode 299: Worshiping in the Tradition from 2020-08-12T06:00
As we continue our conversation about the book 'Reformation Worship,' we look at what principles and ideas we can take from the Reformation and put into practice in modern day worship.
You...
Episode 298: Why the Reformers Cared About Worship & Why You Should Too from 2020-08-05T06:00
It's always good to know and understand our heritage when it comes to worship. Why do we structure our worship gatherings the way we do? Why do we sing together as a congregation? Should we take co...
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Episode 297: Beyond Racial Gridlock from 2020-07-29T06:00
In this episode, we continue our conversation about George Yancey's book "Beyond Racial Gridlock." We discuss some of his more practical ideas about racial reconciliation and what they mean for bot...
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Episode 296: The Book on Racism We Should All Be Reading from 2020-07-22T06:00
Kevin Estep joins us again to talk about the book 'Beyond Racial Gridlock' by George Yancey. Yancey, an African-American sociologist, writes from a Christian perspective and provides more nuance wh...
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Episode 295: Critical Race Theory from 2020-07-15T06:00
In this episode, sociologist and Coram Deo elder Kevin Estep joins us to discuss Critical Race Theory. We explore how the gospel frees us to meaningfully engage with this school of thought while re...
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Episode 294: White Privilege from 2020-07-08T06:00
In our conversations about race, the term 'white privilege' is being used a lot. Our culture seems to lack a clear consensus about what the phrase actually means, which leads to further polarizati...
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Episode 293: Remembering Darrin Patrick from 2020-07-01T06:00
Back in early May, our friend and fellow church leader Darrin Patrick passed away. We devote this episode to remembering Darrin and honoring his life and legacy.
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Episode 292: Pastors Are Tired Right Now from 2020-06-24T06:00
The last few weeks and months have brought many strange and difficult circumstances for pastors and churches to navigate. In this episode, we talk about some of the challenges for pastors in this s...
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Episode 291: A Conversation About Race with Virgil Walker from 2020-06-17T06:00
As we continue thinking about issues of race and justice, Bob sits down for a conversation with Virgil Walker to hear his perspective on racism, injustice, and how the church should engage these is...
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Episode 290: Race, Justice, & the Church with Brian Key - Part 2 from 2020-06-10T06:00
Racism is sinful and real. And the gospel calls us to repentance and action. Listen in as our friend Brian Key helps us sharpen our awareness and deepen our understanding of racial injustice - bibl...
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Episode 289: Race, Justice, & the Church with Brian Key - Part 1 from 2020-06-04T06:00
Racism is sinful and real. And the gospel calls us to repentance and action. Listen in as our friend Brian Key helps us sharpen our awareness and deepen our understanding of racial injustice - bibl...
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The Thursday Conversation from 2020-06-03T06:00
In light of current events, we're recording a special episode of The Wednesday Conversation that will release tomorrow morning rather than today. In this brief episode, Bob explains why we're doing...
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Episode 288: The Moralizing of Mask-Wearing from 2020-05-27T06:00
In the current coronavirus pandemic, as churches begin to open back up, pastors and church leaders are turning the issue of wearing a mask into a moral choice. In this episode, we discuss why this ...
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Episode 287: The Sin of Empathy from 2020-05-20T06:00
In a recent article, pastor & author Joe Rigney suggests that modern culture’s emphasis on empathy may be problematic. Instead, he proposes sympathy as the virtue we should strive for. In this epis...
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Episode 286: Why You're So Tired from 2020-05-13T06:00
Raise your hand if you’ve been on way too many Zoom calls in the last two months. Now raise your hand if you find yourself exhausted at the end of a day full of Zoom calls. In a recent article, Dr...
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Episode 285: Coronavirus: A Case Study in Anxious Systems (Part 2) from 2020-05-06T06:00
In part 2 of this conversation, we continue to discuss author Edwin Friedman's insights on anxious systems and explore how the coronavirus pandemic has influenced human behavior over the last 8 weeks.
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Episode 284: Coronavirus: A Case Study in Anxious Systems (Part 1) from 2020-04-29T06:00
We are well into week seven of the Coronavirus pandemic and these last seven weeks have provided many interesting observations of human behavior in a time of crisis. In this episode, we discuss tho...
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Episode 283: The Problem of Sentimentality - Part 2 from 2020-04-22T06:00
In this episode, we continue our conversation from last week as we discuss an insightful article by Dick Keyes that describes sentimentality and how it might be keeping Christians from deeper spiri...
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Episode 282: The Problem of Sentimentality - Part 1 from 2020-04-15T06:00
What is sentimentality and how is it a problem within the Church? In this episode, we discuss an insightful article by Dick Keyes that describes sentimentality and how it might be keeping Christian...
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Episode 281: Four Problems with American Evangelicalism from 2020-04-08T06:00
Evangelical Christianity is a powerful social force in America. But it's also had serious credibility problems over the past few years. In this episode, we identify four key problems with evangelic...
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Episode 280: What is Spiritual Warfare? from 2020-04-01T06:00
The topic of spiritual warfare means many different things to Christians. In this episode we unpack this term, leaning heavily on the work of David Powlison to identify what spiritual warfare is an...
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Episode 279: Interview with Matthew Kruse from 2020-03-25T06:00
Ever wondered how to build a strong local church in a post-Christian city? In this special episode, Bob sits down with Boston native Matthew Kruse, pastor and leader of the Seven Mile Road family o...
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Episode 278: The Coronavirus Quarantine Episode from 2020-03-18T06:00
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the crew came together to record a special episode bringing some wisdom, humor, and perspective to the situation. Please remember to wash your hands thoroughly...
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Episode 277: Must Pro-Life Mean Pro-Trump? from 2020-03-11T06:00
In a recent article in Christianity Today, author Karen Swallow Prior reflects on her years of pro-life activism and the unsettledness she felt at the 2020 March for Life. In this episode, we disc...
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Episode 276: The Patient Ferment of the Early Church from 2020-03-04T07:00
Among the many books Bob read on sabbatical was the thought-provoking book by Alan Kreider, "The Patient Ferment of the Early Church." In this episode, Bob summarizes the book and we discuss how Kr...
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Episode 275: Top 3 Books Bob Read on Sabbatical from 2020-02-26T07:00
It's no secret that Bob really likes to read. So we weren't surprised to hear that Bob read a lot of books while on sabbatical. In this episode he narrows it down to his top 3... or 4 or 5, and sha...
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Episode 274: Bob's Sabbatical Summary from 2020-02-19T07:00
The Wednesday Conversation is back! Bob was on a sabbatical for the last three months and in this episode, he shares about what his experience was like. Spoiler alert: it wasn't awesome! Listen in ...
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From the Archives: See Jack. See Jack Miller. from 2020-02-12T07:00
The Wednesday Conversation will be back with NEW episodes beginning February 19, 2020!
In this episode from 2015, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Scotty Smith to hear about his m...
From the Archives: Interview - Dr. Greg Dammann from 2020-02-05T07:00
The Wednesday Conversation will be back with NEW episodes beginning February 19, 2020!
In this episode from the archives, we feature a special interview with Dr. Greg Dammann, an orthoped...
From the Archives: The Secret Shame of the Middle Class from 2020-01-15T07:00
In light of a recent article in the Atlantic, this week’s conversation discusses how money, affluence, and spending drive idolatry within American culture.
Read the article here: http://ww...
From the Archives: Spiritual Formation from 2019-11-20T07:00
In this episode from the archives, we are joined by our dear friend, Dr. Gary Nebeker, to discuss spiritual formation in a Christian's life.
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Inchoate Angst, Etc. from 2019-10-30T06:00
We'll be taking a short hiatus from The Wednesday Conversation while Bob is out on sabbatical. But before we say farewell for now, we spend an episode talking about what we're reading, what cultura...
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What If My Spouse Isn't a Christian? from 2019-10-23T06:00
Recently, we received an email from a listener wondering how they ought to navigate an "unequally yoked marriage" in which they are a Christian, but their spouse is not. Unfortunately, this is a re...
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The Church in New England (with guest Erik Raymond) from 2019-10-16T06:00
Our friend, Erik Raymond, moved to Boston a year and a half ago to serve as the Lead Pastor at Redeemer Fellowship Church. Recently, he visited Omaha and joined us to talk about the challenges of l...
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Youth Sports from 2019-10-09T09:48:49
While sports and activities provide plenty of character-building opportunities for kids, there are many ways in which they can become an idol. In this episode, we tackle a listener's question abou...
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Reappearing Church - Part 2 from 2019-10-02T06:00
Pastor & author Mark Sayers has a discerning eye for the church's relationship to culture. In his thought-provoking new book "Reappearing Church," he makes the case that the decline of Western cult...
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Reappearing Church - Part 1 from 2019-09-25T06:00
Pastor & author Mark Sayers has a discerning eye for the church's relationship to culture. In his thought-provoking new book "Reappearing Church," he makes the case that the decline of Western cult...
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Pastoral Sabbaticals from 2019-09-18T06:00
Are sabbaticals really necessary for those in ministry? What are some best practices when it comes to taking a sabbatical? In this episode, with Dusty fresh off his sabbatical and Bob getting ready...
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Children in Church from 2019-09-11T06:00
"Should children sit in church with their parents, or attend children's church?" A listener posed this question in a recent email. In this episode, we discuss how to best involve children in the li...
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Leaders that Leave the Faith from 2019-09-04T06:00
Recently, a few notable Evangelical leaders have announced they are leaving the faith. In this episode, we discuss how to navigate the complexities of leaders falling away from Christianity.
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In Search of the Common Good from 2019-08-28T06:00
In this episode, author and fellow Nebraskan Jake Meador sits down with Bob to talk about his new book "In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World." Purchase Jake’s book ...
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Church Planter Interview: Femi Osunnuyi - Part 2 from 2019-08-21T06:00
This is part 2 of Bob’s conversation with Femi Osunnuyi, a church planter in Lagos, Nigeria. In this episode, Femi shares his story of coming to faith and what it looks like to plant a church in on...
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Church Planter Interview: Femi Osunnuyi - Part 1 from 2019-08-14T06:00
In this episode, Bob sits down with Femi Osunnuyi, a church planter in Lagos, Nigeria. Femi shares his story of coming to faith and what it looks like to plant a church in one of the world's larges...
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From the Archives: The Art of Asking Good Questions from 2019-08-07T06:00
Asking good questions is important when it comes to spiritual formation and community.
Recorded in January 2016.
Critiquing the Missional Church - Part 2 from 2019-07-31T06:00
Recently, Christianity Today editor-in-chief Mark Galli wrote a provocative series of articles critiquing the missional church movement. In this episode, we discuss his arguments and evaluate some ...
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Critiquing the Missional Church - Part 1 from 2019-07-24T06:00
Recently, Christianity Today editor-in -chief Mark Galli wrote a provocative series of articles critiquing the missional church movement. In this episode, we discuss his arguments and evaluate some...
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Should You Listen to Taylor Swift? from 2019-07-17T06:00
We don't talk about Taylor Swift much on this podcast. But after a listener wrote in asking about Ms. Swift's latest single, we decided to talk pop culture for a few minutes. In this episode, we ex...
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The Gospel & Nationalism from 2019-07-10T06:00
On the heels of celebrating our nation's independence, we decided to tackle the topic of nationalism. Chris Hemmelman recently preached a sermon on nationalism and in this episode, he helps us unpa...
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Purity Culture - Helpful or Harmful? from 2019-07-03T06:00
In a recent article for the New York Times, author Kaitlyn Beaty reflects upon her experience of "purity culture" in the late-1990s and early-2000s evangelical Christianity. In this episode, we dis...
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Secularism & the Search for Meaning from 2019-06-26T06:00
Data tells us that now more than ever, religious affiliation is declining. But deep questions about meaning and purpose still exist within every human being. In this episode, we discuss Clay Routle...
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James Carroll's Call to Abolish the Priesthood from 2019-06-19T06:00
Recently, author and former Catholic priest James Carroll wrote an article for The Atlantic making the argument for doing away with the Catholic priesthood. In this episode, we discuss his ideas an...
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Stuff We're Reading from 2019-06-12T06:00
We like to read... and we like to share what we've read with others. In this episode, we take a break from some of our usual conversation topics to discuss a few of the books we're currently readin...
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From the Archives: Building Deep Community from 2019-06-05T06:00
In a world of shallow relationships, broken promises, and emotional disconnection, we discuss what it looks like for Christians to cultivate deep, formative, counter-cultural community.
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The First 15 Minutes of Your Day from 2019-05-15T06:00
What do you spend the first 15 minutes of your day doing? Looking at your phone? Hitting snooze over and over? Attending to your children's needs? In this episode, we talk about why beginning your ...
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The Father Effect - Part 2 from 2019-05-08T06:00
Over the last few weeks, we have heard from many listeners who were encouraged by our recent episode, The Father Effect. Sadly, not long after we recorded that conversation, Dusty's father passed a...
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Green Theology from 2019-05-01T06:00
We received a thoughtful email from a listener who works in the field of natural resources wondering how Christians ought to engage with ideas surrounding environmentalism and creation care. This t...
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Growth in Liturgy from 2019-04-24T06:00
Recently, a listener wrote and asked how our use of liturgy has changed over the years, and how its use has shaped those who attend on Sunday mornings. In this episode, we spend time answering thes...
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The Integrated Person from 2019-04-17T06:00
Provoked by a recent Christianity Today article by Todd Wilson we spend this episode discussing the importance of both holiness and wholeness in a christian's life.
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The Father Effect from 2019-04-10T06:00
The relationship between a father and child or lack thereof plays a huge role in the formation of an individual. In this episode, we talk about why this relationship is so important and how underst...
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6 Things Spiritual Leaders Do from 2019-04-03T06:00
In this podcast, we discuss six key insights about Spirit-empowered leadership offered by Pastor Bob Fox at a recent Acts 29 Heartland conference. Whatever your role as a spiritual leader may look ...
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The Literary Structure of the Minor Prophets from 2019-03-27T06:00
As we wrap up our time in the Minor Prophets, we take a look at the literary structure of these twelve books. We discuss how chronology and various Old Testament themes order the Minor Prophets and...
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Haggai & The Second Temple from 2019-03-20T07:00
Old Testament books can be confusing unless we gain a sense of historical context. In this episode, we explore the historical background of Haggai and discuss the period known as Second Temple Juda...
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Zephaniah & the Danger of Spiritual Pride from 2019-03-13T07:00
Throughout the minor prophets we see many warnings about the dangers of spiritual pride. What does spiritual pride look like and how can we instead cultivate a humble posture towards the Lord? We s...
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Is God the Author of Evil? - Part 2 from 2019-03-06T08:00
In our last episode we looked at some of the theological answers and explanations to the question, "Is God the author of evil?" In this episode, we seek to make it practical. As a leader, how do yo...
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Is God the Author of Evil? from 2019-02-27T08:00
As we continue to discuss some of the various themes throughout the Minor Prophets, we come to the book of Habakkuk and ask the difficult question, "Is God the author of evil?" In this episode, we ...
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Micah & Biblical Justice from 2019-02-20T08:00
The concept of justice has been at the center of many different debates over the last few years. And occasionally, the Bible's vision of justice gets pulled into these debates and conflated. In thi...
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Imprecatory Language in the Old Testament from 2019-02-13T08:00
If you've spent any amount of time reading through the Old Testament you've likely come across strong language that invokes judgment and calamity. In this episode, we discuss how the use of impreca...
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From the Archives: The New Testament Canon from 2019-02-06T08:00
In this episode from November 2015, we discuss the credibility and authority of the New Testament canon.
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From the Archives: Social Media & Expressive Individualism from 2019-01-30T08:00
We live in an age where social media is seemingly unavoidable and places heavy significance on the individual. Today we question how discipleship to Jesus should change the way we engage with socia...
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From the Archives: Does God Change His Mind? from 2019-01-23T08:00
In Jonah 3, God was going to overthrow Nineveh in 40 days, but after the Ninevites repented God relented and did not bring about the prophesied disaster.
On this week's podcast, we examine...
Interview: Porn-Proofing Your Kids from 2019-01-16T08:00
In this special edition of the Wednesday Conversation, Bob interviews Kristen Jenson, author of the book "Good Pictures, Bad Pictures." Kristen discusses pornography's harmful effects on children a...
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