Confronting Christianity with Rebecca McLaughlin

Stephen Foster is the leader of St Aldates Church in Oxford, a dynamic and expanding community with a diverse congregation of young adults, students, and families. Stephen holds a law degree from Oxford and a theology degree from Cambridge, reflecting both his academic prowess and spiritual dedication. Before entering full-time ministry, he worked as a barrister in the UK, gaining extensive experience in criminal defense.

Episode Summary:
Rebecca speaks with Stephen Foster, the leader of St Aldates Church in Oxford, to discuss the intriguing question: Is Jesus believable at Oxford? With Stephen's dynamic background in both law and theology, he offers unique insights on the compatibility of faith with rigorous academic pursuits.
Together they explore how the modern world, particularly in academic centers, is experiencing a resurgent curiosity in Christianity, despite running parallel to vastly secular ideologies. They reflect on the increasing spiritual quests among Gen Z, contrasting it with previous generations' post-Christian perspectives. This episode invites listeners to reconsider entrenched notions about faith in the face of evidence that suggests a vibrant interest in exploring Jesus and Christianity.

Key Takeaways:

• Christianity is experiencing a resurgence of interest among young adults, even within elite academic environments like Oxford.
• There is a noticeable shift from a post-Christian to a pre-Christian context, where people have little knowledge of the gospel yet show deep curiosity.
• The interaction between faith and academic disciplines, such as theoretical physics, is explored, revealing a surprising harmony and intellectual grounding.
• Modern societal crises have catalyzed a spiritual openness, with many seeking truth and meaning beyond secular constructs.
• Spiritual exploration is palpable among younger generations, who are increasingly predisposed to discovering faith in Jesus.

Notable Quotes:

• "In a post-Christian context, people are inoculated with enough of the message of the gospel to immunize them against its power." - Stephen Foster
• "The gospel is not a virus, but there's a natural virality to the gospel." - Stephen Foster
• "We desperately need to have truth, and if you don't, you have no defense against power grabs." - Stephen Foster

Resources:

• Follow Stephen on Instagram

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Purchase Rebecca's Books:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion
• Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
• Jesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship
• Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Bri Stensrud is an established author, human dignity advocate, and director of Women of Welcome. With a master's degree in biblical and theological studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, she is dedicated to equipping churches to actively and consistently engage in comprehensive human dignity issues. Bri serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Evangelicals and has penned two insightful books: "Start with the Journey Toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation" and the children's book "The Biggest, Best Shining God's Light in the World Around You."

Episode Summary:
The conversation centers around the complexities of being pro-life in a broader context. Bri shares her transformative journey from traditional pro-life advocacy into a holistic pursuit that sees immigration and refugee care as extensions of the same intrinsic Christian value of life and dignity. She elaborates on the misconceptions that surround the pro-life movement and the importance of engaging with human dignity issues beyond political boundaries. She also touches on the hurdles Christians face in balancing political and scriptural obligations.

Key Takeaways:

• Choosing Proximity: Bri emphasizes the influence of building relationships with people who hold different perspectives to align more closely with biblical teachings on human dignity.
• Holistic Pro-life Ethic: Embracing a consistent pro-life ethic means advocating not only for the unborn but also for vulnerable groups, such as immigrants and refugees, as equally deserving of care and compassion.
• Beyond Politics: True compassion rooted in Christianity should transcend political labels, emphasizing a Kingdom mindset that values all individuals as God's image bearers.
• Community Engagement: Practical involvement in local and global human dignity efforts, like adoption and refugee support, can allow Christians to live out their beliefs more fully and tangibly.

Notable Quotes:

• "Your compassion is not meant to be political."
• "It's our job as Christians, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, to bring the Kingdom of heaven to earth."
• "People will not always understand what the love of Christ compels you to do, but you should do it anyway."

Resources:

• Bri's Books: Start with Welcome and The Biggest, Best Light
• Women of Welcome: Website

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Purchase Rebecca's Books:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion
• Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
• Jesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship
• Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ellie Weiner is a PhD candidate at Cambridge University, specializing in the Old Testament with a particular focus on the Book of Job. Her academic journey began at Gordon College, followed by a double MA at Gordon-Conwell in Old Testament and biblical languages. Known for her impressive feat of memorizing the entire Book of Job in Hebrew, Ellie is keen on exploring the theological and linguistic intricacies of this complex text. Her work is characterized by a joyful engagement with scripture, challenging the stereotypical perceptions of biblical academia.

Episode Summary:
Rebecca converses with Ellie Weiner, a PhD candidate from Cambridge University notable for memorizing the Book of Job in Hebrew. The episode illuminates Ellie's unique academic journey through Old Testament scholarship, focusing on her vibrant approach to studying the linguistically and theologically complex Book of Job. Ellie and Rebecca further explore the connections between Job and New Testament teachings, offering listeners a rich theological perspective. They discuss the importance of academic integrity in biblical scholarship and the distinctive call to serve in under-resourced areas, emphasizing the humility required to authentically engage with scripture.

Key Takeaways:

• Ellie Weiner's approach to biblical scholarship demonstrates that deep academic study can enhance rather than diminish personal faith.
• The Book of Job serves as a profound microcosm for the entire biblical narrative, especially in its themes of suffering and divine justice.
• Ellie's commitment to memorizing Job in Hebrew underscores her dedication to engaging scripture deeply and humbly as a student of God's word.
• There is an intrinsic value and necessity in grappling with difficult biblical texts to foster a fuller understanding of Christian doctrine and life.
• Ellie's future aspirations involve teaching in regions with limited theological resources, reflecting an expansive view of how academic biblical study serves the global church.

Notable Quotes:

• "The entire theological substructure of the book is just getting me to Jesus every time."
• "How do I give myself away until Jesus comes back?"
• "I want God to master me through the scriptures."

Resources:

• Read Ellie's article on memorizing Job: Tyndale House

Sign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/Subscribe

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Purchase Rebecca's Books:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion
• Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
• Jesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship
• Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sita Slavov is a professor at George Mason University. She grew up in a Hindu family in Houston, Texas. Over time, she explored different faiths, including Zen Buddhism, and eventually embraced Christianity. She has a PhD in economics from Stanford University and now lives in Virginia with her husband, leading a women's Bible study at her church.

Episode Summary:
Rebecca talks with Sita Slavov about her spiritual journey from growing up in a Hindu family to embracing Christianity. Sita shares her experiences of exploring various faiths, including her deep engagement with Zen Buddhism and her personal struggles during the pandemic. She opens up about how these challenges led her to rediscover God and ultimately accept Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

• Spiritual Exploration: Sita's journey shows the importance of seeking your own answers to life's big questions and being open to exploring different faiths.
• Challenges and Growth: Personal struggles, like anxiety and the pandemic, can be turning points that lead to deeper spiritual insights and transformations.
• Community Support: Engaging with a supportive church community can be crucial in one's faith journey, providing answers, support, and a sense of belonging.
• Open-Mindedness: It's important to examine evidence with an open mind when exploring faith, as initial skepticism can turn into genuine belief.

Notable Quotes:

• "Faith is really a choice. You don't have to be the same faith as your parents."
• "Despite dedicating myself to daily meditation and attending rigorous retreats, I struggled to find the answers I sought."
• "When you fully embrace the gospel, it really is life-changing."

Follow:
Sita on X.

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Purchase Rebecca's Books:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion
• Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
• Jesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship
• Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Alan Noble is an Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University. He has contributed articles to prestigious publications such as The Atlantic, The Gospel Coalition, First Things, and Christianity Today. He is the author of three books, with his most recent work being "On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living." His academic interests and writings often explore the intersections of literature, faith, and mental health.

Episode Summary:
Rebecca interviews Dr. Alan Noble, an Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, about his latest book "On Getting Out of Bed." They discuss the profound connections between faith, mental health, literature, and the human experience. Alan emphasizes that while contemporary culture often encourages introspection to the point of self-absorption, the Christian faith invites individuals to find meaning and purpose beyond themselves.

Key Takeaways:

• Christianity provides a unique explanatory power for suffering, purpose, and human experience.
• Support from a compassionate community is crucial for those dealing with mental health issues.
• The Christian faith offers fundamental objective truths that challenge the inward focus encouraged by contemporary culture.
• Meaning and purpose in life are reaffirmed by the unchanging love and sacrifice of Jesus, providing hope for all circumstances.

Notable Quotes:

• "Anxiety and depression like to tell you to turn inward on yourself and fold in, but what you need is your world to get bigger." - Alan Noble
• "There's a profound witness in embracing life and living it for God, even in the midst of suffering." - Alan Noble
• "We can't stop being useful to God because he never made us to be useful in the first place." - Alan Noble

Follow: Alan on Instagram.

Purchase Alan's new book: On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living

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Purchase Rebecca's Books:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion
• Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
• Jesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship
• Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Quina Aragon is an accomplished author, editor, and spoken word artist based in Orlando, Florida. She lives with her husband and their daughter. Kina has penned the children’s book trilogy—Love Made, Love Gave, and Love Can—which creatively retells biblical scripture through a trinitarian lens of love. Additionally, she is the author of Love Has A Story: 100 Meditations on the Enduring Love of God, a book exploring God's love through scripture and personal reflection. Her work bridges the gap between theological insights and everyday life experiences, engaging readers with powerful meditations and poetry.

Rebecca and Quina discuss her latest book, Love Has A Story: 100 Meditations on the Enduring Love of God. Quina shares the personal trials and spiritual insights she gained while writing her book over four years, a period marked by significant life challenges.

• Follow Quina on her social media for more updates:
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
• Purchase Quina's book: Love Has A Story: 100 Meditations on the Enduring Love of God
• Check out the children's book trilogy by Quina Aragon: Love Made, Love Gave, and Love Can

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Purchase Rebecca's Books:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion
• Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
• Jesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship
• Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Daniel Gilman is a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge in the Faculty of History, focusing on how public speaking helped end the slave trade. He serves as a legislative advisor to the Inter Parliamentary Task Force on human trafficking, collaborating with global politicians to end human trafficking and combat sexual abuse. He and his wife, Alexandra, aim to make the church safer from predators. Follow his research and advocacy on X at @DanielGilmanHQ.

Episode Summary:
Rebecca speaks with Daniel Gilman about his remarkable journey of faith, his current research, and the historical impact of Christian figures like William Wilberforce on social justice. They delve into Gilman's work on public speaking's role in abolishing the slave trade and his ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking. Their conversation spans personal anecdotes, historical insights, and theological reflections.
Rebecca and Daniel jointly explore how authentic Christian faith can be distinguished from its cultural misappropriations, using the life and work of William Wilberforce as a central example. The episode underscores how Wilberforce's evangelical conversion led him to spearhead the movement against the British slave trade despite substantial opposition.

Key Takeaways:
Daniel Gilman's background as a Jewish believer and his personal faith journey influenced his academic and professional pursuits.
The critical role of public speaking and advocacy in William Wilberforce’s campaign against the British slave trade.
Importance of authentic Christian witness in historical and contemporary social justice movements.
The transformative effect of the Great Awakening on British society, paving the way for Wilberforce's legislative success.
Analysis of historical and modern perspectives on Christianity's relationship with social justice issues like slavery and human trafficking.
Notable Quotes:
Daniel Gilman: "If Jesus is true, if the Bible can be trusted, you can cross-examine it and you don't need to be afraid."
Rebecca McLaughlin: "If we let go of Jesus in those circumstances, we're not left with a more just, more loving, less sin-infested world. We're left with nothing, essentially."
Daniel Gilman: "Wilberforce chose to stay and introduced legislation to end the slave trade, year after year, experiencing defeat after defeat, but finally succeeded after 18 years."
Daniel Gilman: "He wasn't trying to project a superhero version of himself. He was able to be honest with his friends and that created such a meaningful sense of intimacy."


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Purchase Rebecca's Books:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion
• Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
• Jesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship
• Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sarah Irving-Stonebraker is a distinguished historian and a professor at Australian Catholic University. Specializing in early modern history, particularly the intersections of science and religion, Sarah has authored a new book titled "Priests of History: Stewarding the Past in an Ahistoric Age." Her scholarly journey has seen her transition from atheism to Christianity, influenced by intellectual and historical investigations.

Episode Summary:
Rebecca reconnects with her long-time friend and academic peer, Sarah Irving-Stonebraker. The conversation starts with Sarah's fascinating journey from atheism to faith, accentuated by her academic study of early modern scientists who were devout Christians. A significant part of their discussion touches on Sarah's latest book, "Priests of History," which explores the importance of engaging with Christian history in meaningful ways.

Rebecca and Sarah reminisce about their time at Cambridge, where Sarah began questioning her atheism under the influence of historical studies. Sarah details significant turning points, including her profound experience at an American church, which ultimately led her to embrace Christianity. Finally, the discussion shifts to the essential themes of Sarah's book, highlighting the roles Christians can play in stewarding history meaningfully.

Key Takeaways:
Rethinking Atheism through History: Sarah's research into early modern scientists who were devout Christians challenged her preconceptions about the incompatibility of science and faith.
Intellectual Conversion: Encounters with prominent atheists and deep reflections on moral and ethical underpinnings propelled Sarah towards questioning atheism and exploring Christianity.
Profound Spiritual Experience: A powerful experience at a church in the U.S. catalyzed Sarah's acceptance of Christianity, reinforced by reading works like CS Lewis' "Mere Christianity."
Importance of Christian History: Sarah's book "Priests of History" emphasizes the significance of engaging with Christian history to ground our faith and understand contemporary issues better.
Practical Implications:The conversation extends to reflecting on how Christians today can incorporate historical understanding and spiritual rhythms into their daily lives for a more robust faith experience.

Notable Quotes:
"I remember sitting in church and having this experience of being invited into and called into a relationship with a God from whom I guess I just realized I had always been running away from." -Sarah Irving-Stonebraker
"I think the story that best accounts for the profound and beautiful striving for good and the tremendous brokenness I observed in human history is Christianity." -Sarah Irving-Stonebraker


Visit: Sarah's website
Follow: Sarah on X
Pre-order: Sarah's new book Priests of History: Stewarding the Past in an Ahistoric Age

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Purchase Rebecca's Books:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion
• Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
• Jesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship
• Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca engages in a profound conversation with Rachel Gilson, author and theologian, on navigating the complexities of raising Christian children in an LGBT-affirming world. Reflecting on her newest book, "Parenting Without Panic in an LGBT-Affirming World: Discipling Our Kids with Jesus' Truth and Love", Rachel shares the impetus behind her writing and the life experiences that shaped her perspectives.
Throughout the episode, Rebecca and Rachel deeply explore the challenges that today's Christian parents face. They address the growing cultural shifts around sexuality and gender identity, especially how Christian sexual ethics, which was once seen as respectable, is now often perceived as suspicious or even harmful. Using personal anecdotes and sobering reflections, Rachel elaborates on why it's essential to start conversations about faith and sexual ethics early, fostering an environment where children feel safe to ask challenging questions. Join us as they walk through practical steps for discipling children with grace, authenticity, and Jesus-centered love

Rachel Gilson is a noted author and speaker specializing in Christian sexual ethics. She serves on the leadership team for theological development and culture at Cru, a dynamic missionary organization. Rachel is also in the advanced stages of completing her PhD in public theology from Southeastern Theological Seminary. Her acclaimed book, "Born Again This Way: Coming Out, Coming to Faith, and What Comes Next" is considered a valuable resource on Christian sexual ethics. Rachel is passionate about helping Christians navigate complex cultural issues with a gospel-centered approach.

Key Takeaways:

• Navigating Cultural Shifts: Rachel sheds light on how Christian parents can stay true to biblical principles while adapting to today’s ever-changing cultural landscape.
• Early Conversations: Discover why it’s crucial to start talking to your kids about sexuality and faith early on, and how to weave these discussions into the fabric of the gospel.
• Authenticity and Compassion: Rachel advocates for a genuine approach to parenting—living out Christian values in a way that radiates love and compassion.
• Practical Parental Guidance: Get actionable advice on preparing your children to engage thoughtfully with diverse beliefs about sexuality they’ll encounter in their daily lives.
• Community Support: Learn how leaning on your church community can provide invaluable support and wisdom as you raise your kids in faith.

Visit: Rachel's website
Follow: Rachel on X
Pre-order: Rachel's new book Parenting without Panic in an LGBT-Affirming World

Sign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/Subscribe

Follow Confronting Christianity:
Instagram | X

Purchase Rebecca's Books:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion
• Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
• Jesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship
• Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

In season 5 we will explore important questions like how to talk to kids about sexuality, the relevance of Christianity's history today, and how faith can help with depression and anxiety. We'll also discuss perspectives on immigration, slavery in the Bible, women's right to choose, and Buddhism as a path to peace. Rebecca will talk with various friends and experts to see how their faith shapes their thoughts and lives.

For more insights, you can sign up for weekly emails at rebeccamclaughlin.org

Rebecca McLaughlin wraps us the season by answering questions asked by listeners! Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What does the Bible say about what it is to be a woman? Can we define it across all cultures and time?
• I have a daughter who has drifted from the faith as she embraced LGBT and has now been with a girl for 3 years and they are talking about marriage. I want to make a last stand of sorts for her life but don’t know how to do it.
  • What would the advice be if this woman still identifies as a Christian?
• How should we navigate a church that values marriage, romance, and the biological family above all things? They won't admit it explicitly but from what they do and say it is implied.
• What would be the right response to someone who told me that she was okay with just having God and her husband?
• What advice would you give on choosing a local church? What if you disagree with second-tier issues?
• What are some of the lead causes for the divergence of young men and women toward increasingly conservative and liberal views respectively? How should the church address this?
• How would you respond to someone who used to hold a Christian sexual ethic but are now affirming?
• How is it reasonable that we are held responsible for sinning when we inherit a sinful nature from birth?
• What 3 pieces of wisdom and encouragement would you give to young Christian evangelists?

Resources Mentioned:

• Ephesians 5, Genesis 1, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Corinthians 7, 1 Corinthians 5:9–13

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Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Kyle Worley to discuss how Christians are called to interact with others.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Where does the ethos of discussing truth with grace to others with differing opinions or ideas come from?
• Why is there a difference between what Christians are called to (Colossians 3) and the way they live and interact with others?
• How do you shepherd people as we enter into a season with more intense political debate and differences?
• What is the future of Confronting Christianity?
• Kyle, what is your new book coming out?

Guest Bio:Kyle Worley is the pastor of Mosiac Church in Richardson, TX. He previously served at The Village Church, cohosts the Knowing Faith podcast, and is the author of Pitfalls: Along the Path to Young and Reformed. Kyle and his wife, Lauren, have one daughter.Resources Mentioned:

• Colossians, Philemon, 1 Peter 3:15-16
• “Confronting Christianity” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• “Home with God” by Kyle Worley

Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Michael Graham to discuss why Americans have stopped going to church and Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did you become a Christian?
• How did you become interested in “The Great Dechurching”?
• What is the history of American church attendance?
• What happened from the height of attendance in the 80s to now?
• What proportion of Americans who previously went to church have stopped attending church?
• Why did Americans stop going to church?
• How would you respond to people who think that fewer people attending church is good for society?
• Are more educated people less likely to go to church?

Guest Bio:Michael Graham is the Program Director at The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics and is the co-author of “The Great Dechurching.”Resources Mentioned:

• Galatians
• “The Great Dechurching” by Jim Davis, Michael Graham, and Ryan Burge
• As In Heaven Podcast
• Tyler J. VanderWeele

Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Karyn Becker to discuss how we are called to care for refugees and the practical ways we can do so.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is design thinking?
• As you started out helping refugees, did you think through it in design thinking?
• How has your faith in Jesus motivated you to spend time with refugees?
• Can you tell us about the project Dovely?
• How do you see this model being implemented in other parts of the world?
• How do I support this project?
• Why are you a follower of Jesus?

Guest Bio:Karyn is a design researcher and strategist helping organizations make business more human through Design Thinking. She’s brought products and services to life during her time at the Mayo Clinic, MIT Media Lab, Johnson & Johnson, REI, and while consulting for a diverse range of firms. Her publications exploring the intersection of business and design have appeared in MIT's Management Review, Quartz, and other global forums. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a design degree from the University of Cincinnati, and is a current Masters of Public Health candidate at Boston University.Most recently, she’s partnered with refugee resettling agencies in the greater Boston area and serves as the founding Director of Dovely, a soon to launch gospel centered, voucher first daycare for refugees.Resources Mentioned:

• Deuteronomy 10:19
• Dovely Daycare

Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Julie Ferrell to discuss motherhood.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did you reflect on motherhood before you were a mom?
• What would you say to the people who think motherhood is a burden?
• What would you say to the people who think motherhood is a woman's highest calling?
• What does it mean that the act of mothering can look different but our calling as moms is the same?
• What are your thoughts on choosing where your kids go to school?
• What difference does it make in your parenting that you are a follower of Jesus?
• What is the best way to disciple your kids?
• For Christians, does allowing our kids to struggle with others who disagree with their faith, help them grow their faith?
• What does it mean to be a spiritual mom to others in the church?

Guest Bio:Julie Ferrell is a stay-at-home mom with 4 daughters. She and her husband live in the greater Boston area. She graduated from Duke University with a double major in religion and history with a minor in chemistry. Resources Mentioned:

• Colossians 3:3
• Jen Wilkin
• “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt

Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Rachel Gilson to have a conversation about whether the Bible affirms same-sex relationships.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Can you share your story?
• What is the most common question about what the Bible says about relationships?
• What would you say to someone who asks how a loving God could be against relationships like this?
• How does our church community offer love to those in our congregation who are lonely due to singleness?
• How do you love your friend without compromising your beliefs?
• What is covered in the book?

Guest Bio:Rachel Gilson is on the leadership team for theological development and culture for Cru. She is the author of Born Again This Way: Coming Out, Coming to Faith, and What Comes Next. Rachel has a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is pursuing a Ph.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to Andrew and has a daughter.Resources Mentioned:

• 1 John 4:7-21
• “Does The Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships? by Rebecca McLaughlin

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Sam Allberry to discuss what it means to have union with Christ.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What does it mean that Christians are united with Christ?
• How does union with Christ bring Christians together?
• How does the Bible describe Christian friendship?
• What does union with Christ mean for our desire to sin?
• What prompted you to write this book?

Guest Bio:Sam Allberry is a pastor, apologist, and speaker. He is the author of a number of books, including Is God Anti-Gay?, Why Bother with Church?, 7 Myths about Singleness, and What God Has To Say About Our Bodies.He has written extensively for numerous organizations, including The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, and Living Out.Resources Mentioned:

• 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4, Romans 15:7
• “7 Myths about Singleness” by Sam Alberry
• “Is God Anti-Gay?” by Sam Alberry
• “One with My Lord” by Sam Alberry

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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Kenza Haddock to share her story of how Jesus changed her life.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Tell us about your life story.
• Was your identity tied to being a Muslim?
• What changed when you moved to the US?
• What does “the end times” mean for a Muslim? What does it mean for a Christian?
• How did you know it was Jesus in your dream?
• What was it that led you to believe in Jesus?
• What is Romans 10:9?
• Why did you have to move away from your family?
• What would your advice be to people who were raised in a Muslim home and are trying to figure out faith in Jesus?
• How has your faith in Jesus helped you understand more of yourself in mental health challenges? How has it helped you, help others?
• How would you as a Christian help others to think better about their Muslim neighbors?

Guest Bio:Kenza Haddock is a Christian author, licensed professional counselor, and a board certified pastoral counselor. She is the co-owner of Oceanic Counseling Group LLC, an outpatient mental health agency headquartered in South Carolina. Haddock is a sought-after speaker—she has spoken at conferences and churches, and she has been featured in dozens of news channels, including ABC 15, for her expertise in Christian counseling.Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 10:9, Hebrews 4:6,1 John 1:9
• “The Ex-Muslim's Guide to Christianity” by Kenza Haddock

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Tom Rudelius to discuss Tom’s story, the probability of the multiverse, belief in God, and where hope can be found in suffering.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did you become a Christian?
• How did you originally tie science and academics with your faith once you became a Christian?
• What areas and topics are you currently researching?
• Why is it called string theory?
• Is the idea of the Big Bang incompatible with belief in God?
• Help us understand where we are today in the Universe in the laws of nature with intelligent life and/or the multiverse.
• Do most of your colleagues believe in the multiverse? What do they think of people who believe in God?
• What does Christianity have to offer in terms of facing suffering?

Guest Bio:Tom Rudelius completed his undergraduate work at Cornell, earned a doctorate in physics at Harvard, and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Currently a postdoctoral researcher in theoretical physics at the University of California, Berkeley, Tom will begin a faculty position at Durham University in the fall of 2023. His research focuses on string theory, quantum field theory, and early universe cosmology. A man of faith and an avid sports fan, he is frequently requested to speak on topics related to science and faith.Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 13, Genesis 1, Job
• “Just Six Numbers” by Martin Rees

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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Matthew Martens to discuss if Christianity can help reform the criminal justice system. Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is the quick summary of what you are proposing in this book?
• What does Christianity have to do with the criminal justice system?
• Why does Christianity have a proposal for reforming the criminal justice system in America?
• The number of people has increased substantially, what is the reason for that?
• When you think about where we are today for criminal justice, how is that politically motivated?
• Is the right Christian response to just let people go freely even if they have done something wrong?
• How can we tell if someone has truly repented of their crimes?
• Were you a Christian before you became a lawyer? Did that lead to your decision to become a lawyer?

Guest Bio:Matthew Martens has been a lawyer for 27 years after graduating first in his class at the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1996. At the outset of his legal career, Matthew spent two years in Washington, DC serving as a law clerk for a federal court of appeals judge and then to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist at the US Supreme Court.In the years that followed, he has worked both as a federal prosecutor (9 years) and as a criminal defense attorney (13 years). Matthew is currently a partner in the Washington, DC office of one of the world's largest law firms. Along the way, he attended seminary part-time at Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating with a master's degree in biblical studies in 2010. Matthew is currently pursuing a Th.M. in theological ethics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 13
• “Reforming Criminal Justice” by Matthew T. Martens

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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Vermon Pierre to have a conversation about how God's love for His church deepens our love for each otherQuestions Covered in This Episode:

• What does your day-to-day life look like as a pastor?
• How did you become a Christian? What draws you to Christian community?
• What ethnic background was the church you grew up in?
• What was your experience with your faith at Princeton?
• What do you think about the local church theologically? What does that look like practically?
• Can you share an example where you have seen this lived out?
• How would you encourage someone who is hesitant to participate in a local church?
• How can someone be vulnerable in friendship?
   

Guest Bio:Vermon Pierre is a founding pastor and the lead pastor at Roosevelt Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the author of Gospel Shaped Living, Dearly Beloved and a contributor to The New City Catechism Devotional. Vermon is a Princeton University graduate and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Dennae live in downtown Phoenix and have five children.Resources Mentioned:

• “Dearly Beloved” by Vermon Pierre

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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Ian Hutchinson to discuss the relationship between science and the Christian faith.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is your scientific research on?
• When did you become a Christian?
• Is there a contradiction between the Christian faith and science?
• How would help someone who thinks miracles are not plausible?
• What is the strongest piece of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus?
• What would you say to someone who doesn’t think there is a need to choose to believe or not believe?
• What would you say to someone who feels like it is too late to put their faith in Jesus?

Guest Bio:Ian H. Hutchinson is Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His primary research interest is plasma physics, especially the magnetic confinement of plasmas (ionized gases): seeking to enable fusion reactions, the energy source of the stars, to be used for practical energy production. Hutchinson received his B.A. in physics and M.A. from Cambridge University. He then received his Ph.D in engineering physics from Australian National University, where he was a Commonwealth Scholar. In addition to 250 journal articles on a variety of plasma phenomena, Dr. Hutchinson is widely known for his standard textbook on measuring plasmas: Principles of Plasma Diagnostics, and A Student's Guide to Numerical Methods. He has written and lectured extensively on the relationship between science and the Christian faith, and authored the books Monopolizing Knowledge and Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles?. Resources Mentioned:

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
• “Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles?” by Ian Hutchinson

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Irwyn Ince to have a conversation about CrossFit, Jesus, and where his hope is found. Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did you get into CrossFit?
• Tell us about the community aspect of Crossfit.
• How did you become a Christian?
• How did becoming a Christian change your way of thinking?
• How does the history of race in America impact the way we view church today?
• What would you say to someone who knows something is missing from their life but thinks that CrossFit is meeting their need for community?
• How does the reality of hope in the Christian life inform the race you are running now?

Guest Bio:Irwyn Ince is a pastor at Grace DC Presbyterian Church, director of the Grace DC Institute for Cross Cultural Mission, and a Board member of The Gospel Coalition. He has contributed to the books Heal Us, Emmanuel and All Are Welcome: Toward a Multi-Everything Church and authored The Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity, and the Church at Its Best. He and his wife, Kim, have four children.In addition to his passion for his family and for ministry, Dr. Ince is gleefully committed to coffee and CrossFit. When he’s not spending time with his family or preaching and teaching in the church, you can find him coaching classes at a local CrossFit gym in DC.Resources Mentioned:

• Hebrews 11-13
• “Hope Ain't a Hustle” by Irwyn Ince

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Vaneetha Risner to discuss her life story and what God has taught her through suffering. Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Can you share a little of your life and how you became a Christian?
• What happened once you became a Christian?
• Has suffering helped you set your eyes on the future hope we have as Christians?

Guest Bio:Vaneetha Rendall Risner is the author of several books including but not limited to; Desperate For Hope, Walking Through Fire, and The Scars That Have Shaped Me. Vaneetha and her husband Joel live in Raleigh, NC, where she writes at her website, encouraging readers to turn to Christ in their pain.Resources Mentioned:

• Psalm 119, John 11, 2 Corinthians 4:17

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Gray Sutanto to have a conversation about why God doesn’t save everyone.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Can you give us a 60 second overview of your life?
• When you were 12, what made you turn to atheism? When you were 17 what made you turn to Jesus?
• Why doesn't God save everyone?
• Are human beings fundamentally good?
• What is concupiscence?
• Were we created with concupiscence? Or is this a feature of our curroption from the fall?
• How is it fair that God chooses one person over another to save?
• How is this invitation open to everyone, if not everyone has heard the gospel?

Guest Bio:N. Gray Sutanto (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is assistant professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He is the author of God and Knowledge, coauthor of Neo-Calvinism: A Theological Introduction, cotranslator of Herman Bavinck’s Christian Worldview, and coeditor of Handbook to Neo-Calvinism. Gray is married to Indita and they have a daughter. He is an ordained minister in the International Presbyterian Church. You can follow him on Twitter.Helpful Definitions:

• Concupiscence: The gravitational pull to sin.

Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 3, Job

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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Elizabeth Woodson to discuss how following Jesus is better than you could possibly imagine.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How would you explain what the gospel is for those who don’t know?
• What inspired you to write “Embrace your Life,” what is it about?
• What story is the bible telling us?
• How does our story either fit or not fit into the Story of the Bible?
• What would you say to someone who says it feels childish to put their hope in Jesus?

Guest Bio:Elizabeth Woodson is a Bible teacher and author who is passionate about equipping believers to understand the rich theological truths of Scripture. She loves helping people internalize their faith and connect it practically to everyday life. She is a contributing author for World on Fire and the author of Embrace Your Life: How to Find Joy When the Life You Have Is Not the Life You Hoped For. She is also a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Christian Education.Resources Mentioned:“Embrace Your Life” by Elizabeth Woodson Follow Us:
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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by James Eglinton to have a conversation about the arguments for and against euthanasia, how Christians should think about it, and where our hope can be found.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is euthanasia? What is this conversation about? How does it connect to The Great British Bake Off?
• Why might people be in favor of euthanasia?
• What is your wife's perspective as someone who is involved in geriatric care as a medical professional?
• How should Christians think about euthanasia?
• What are the compelling arguments against euthanasia?
• How can Christians enter into these spaces and conversations?
• What is it about being a human that makes us valuable?
• What is the meaning of suffering?

Guest Bio:James Eglinton is the Meldrum Senior Lecturer in Reformed Theology at New College, the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of several books; including but not limited to, Trinity and Organism, Neo-Calvinism and the French Revolution, Herman Bavinck on Preaching and Preachers, and Bavinck: A Critical Biography. He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Reformed Theology published by Bril and is a co-host for the Grace in Common podcastResources Mentioned:Prue Leith's Approach to Euthanasia is Imprudent by James Eglinton Follow Us:
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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Justin Brierley have a conversation about if people are still asking if God is dead and why.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Are people still asking if God is dead?
• What is driving that?
• Where do people tend to get stuck when they try to answer this question?
• How does the Christian heritage of our culture show the truth?
• Why is it so weird, that the God we believe in came to to earth to die?
• In your conversations with people, are they specific about who God is or more general about belief?
• Have you seen a story of suffering lead people to Jesus?
• What would you say to someone who wants to believe but is highly educated?

Guest Bio:Justin is a freelance writer, speaker and broadcaster who has become known for creating dialogues between Christians and non-Christians. Justin has worked in radio, podcast and video for over two decades. Until April 2023 he was Theology & Apologetics Editor for Premier Christian Radio, and hosted the Unbelievable? radio show and podcast as well as the Ask NT Wright Anything podcast. Justin was also editor of Premier Christianity magazine from 2014-2018, for which he continues to contribute articles.He is the author of 'Unbelievable? Why, after ten years of talking with atheists, I'm still a Christian' and 'The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God.' Justin currently co-hosts the Re-Enchanting podcast for Seen & Unseen, and is a guest presenter for the Maybe God podcast. He has also recently launched The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief in God podcast documentary series.Justin is married to Lucy, a church minister in Surrey, and they have 4 amazing children - Noah, Grace, Jeremy and Toby.Resources Mentioned:

• “The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God” by Justin Brierley
• “Outgrowing God: A Beginner's Guide” Richard Dawkins
• The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief in God

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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by John Dickson to discuss if history discredits Christianity.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why are the core Christians's beliefs not surprising to a first century Jewish rabbi, known as Jesus?
• When were the Gospels written and how can we be sure?
• What about the claim that Jesus is God in the flesh, where is the evidence of that?
• Can you give us background on Constantine?
• What happened during the Crusades?

Guest Bio:John Dickson started out as a professional singer-songwriter and now works as an author, speaker, historian, and media presenter. He was the Founding Director of the Centre for Public Christianity. He has published over 20 books, two of which became television documentaries, with a third, For the Love of God: How the Church is Better and Worse Than you Ever Imagined, released in Australian cinemas in June 2018.John has held a variety of teaching and research positions before moving to Wheaton College, including in the Ancient History Department at Macquarie University (2002-2015), the Hebrew, Jewish and Biblical Studies Department at Sydney University (2011-2021), Ridley College Melbourne (2019-2022), and the Faculty of Classics at the University of Oxford (2015-2023). A busy public speaker, he lives in Wheaton, Illinois, with his wife Elizabeth and the youngest of their three children.Resources Mentioned:

• 1 Corinthians 15, Philippians 2
• Undeceptions Podcast

“Bullies and Saints” by John Dickson Follow Us:
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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Gavin Ortlund to answer the question; why doesn't God make Himself more obvious?Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why doesn't God make Himself more obvious?
• What is divine transcendence?
• How does the incarnation affect this conversation?
• How is Jesus the image of the invisible God?
• Why would God use sinful humans to reveal Himself to others instead of something more obvious?
• What does the Bible say about sin and why is it so offensive?
• What about the people who have never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus?
• How should I pray?

Helpful Definitions:

• Divine Transcendence: God is high and lofty and beyond our ability to fully understand. We shouldn’t expect that we will fully understand everything about God based on our moment-by-moment intuitions. 
• Incarnation: God becoming a man in Christ. 

Guest Bio:Dr. Gavin Ortlund is a pastor, author, speaker, and apologist for the Christian faith. He runs the YouTube channel Truth Unites, which seeks to promote gospel assurance through theological depth. Gavin has a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in historical theology, and an M.Div from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is the author of eight books as well as numerous academic and popular articles. Gavin is a fellow of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, a fellow of The Center for Baptist Renewal, a fellow of Credo, a member of St. Basil Fellowship of The Center for Pastor Theologians, and a Visiting Scholar at Reasons to Believe.Resources Mentioned:

• Colossians 1, Romans 10:15, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7
• Truth Unites

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Hey there! Get ready for an exciting season where we're going to talk about some big questions that people have about Christianity. Every Tuesday, we'll dive into topics like why God isn't more visible, what Christianity says about love and relationships, and how science and faith can fit together. We'll discuss if things like resurrection and euthanasia make sense in Christianity, and we'll even talk about whether the Bible has anything to say about tough issues like slavery. So tune in each week, and if you've got questions, let us know so we can talk about them in future episodes. Don't forget to give us a review on iTunes! See you next week for our first episode! Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin walks through the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and why it is significant for us today.Resources Mentioned:

• Luke 1-2, Matthew 1, 28

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by her friend, Justine, who recently got baptized to answer some questions submitted by listeners!Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Do you have any advice for a first-time mom trying to keep up and stay connected to the church during the first six weeks? Any thoughts on how to practically lead a discipleship group for new moms?
• How should we understand passages like 1 Corinthians 14:33-36 or 1 Timothy 2:11-12 that say women should learn in silence?
• Why is the church referred to as “she;” is the church not the body of Christ?
• Will you respond to Matthew Vines's book “God and the Gay Christian”?
• Do you think it's important to have specific study groups for women in the church or do you find it more edifying to have men and women together to study? Any resources you would recommend?
• Do you think the command to “be fruitful and multiply” still applies to Christians today? What are your thoughts about Christian couples deferring having children?
• Do you think the Old Testament law applies to believers today? If so, in what way?

Resources Mentioned:

• Isaiah 49:15, 1 Corinthians 14:33-36, 1 Timothy 2:11-12, Ephesians 5, Genesis 1:28, Matthew 28:18-20
• Knowing Faith
• “Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• “Jesus Through the Eyes of Women” by Rebecca McLaughlin

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Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Susan Lim to discuss her new book, “Light of the World.”Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Where did the Bible, specifically the New Testament, come from and how is it reliable today?
• What is an Apostle?
• What was the process for deciding what was included or not included in the Bible?
• How do the gospels show Jesus as the only hero?
• What about the Old Testament?
• What language was the Bible written in?
• How do we know that when we pick up a Bible today, we have authentic access to the original text?
• What was something you learned while you wrote this book?
• How did you become a Christian?

Helpful Definitions:

• Homologoumena: Books that have always been considered divine.
• Apocropha: Books outside the accepted canon of scripture.
• Masoretic Text: Hebrew Old Testament.
• Septuagint: Greek Old Testament.

Guest Bio:Susan C. Lim (PhD, UCLA) is a historian and writer. She has been a professor of history at Biola University in La Mirada, California, and is a speaker at conferences, churches, and retreats. She loves to share God's Word and serve at her home church, Mariners Church in Irvine, California. She resides in Southern California with her husband, Brian, and their two children.Resources Mentioned:

• “Light of the Word” by Susan C. Lim

Sponsors:To learn more about our sponsors please visit our website.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Glen Scrivener to have a conversation about the gospel of Jesus.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Can you tell us about your new book?
• Can you articulate the gospel in 30 seconds?
• What is the overall story of the Bible and how does it connect to us today?
• How is it right for one man to pay for the sins of other people? How is it not proof of the injustice of God?
• Why was such a drastic sacrifice God’s plan?
• What did the cross mean in the first century?
• How does the celebration of Christmas relate to what Jesus did at the end of his life?

Guest Bio:Glen Scrivener is an ordained Church of England minister and evangelist who preaches Christ through writing, speaking, and online media. He directs the evangelistic ministry Speak Life. Glen is originally from Australia and now he and his wife, Emma, live with their two children in England. They belong to All Souls Eastbourne. He is the author of several books, including The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality and 3-2-1: The Story of God, the World, and You.Resources Mentioned:

• John 1:29, Genesis 22, Matthew 6:9-13
• “The Air We Breathe” by Glen Scrivener
• “How to See Life: A Guide in 3 2 1” by Glen Scrivener

Sponsors:To learn more about our sponsors please visit our website.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Andrew Wilson to have a conversation about his book “Remaking the World.”Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Can you tell us what your new book is actually about?
• How might the line, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” otherwise be known?
• What would you say to someone who understands this originates from Christianity but believes it has evolved past that?
• What would you say to someone who thinks Christianity is taking a step backward in enlightenment?
• What does it mean that the West is post-Christian? What is currently happening in London?
• What would you say gives you the most hope and encouragement in terms of the gospel spreading?
• How would you encourage someone who is exploring Christianity?
• What was it for you that made Jesus beautiful?

Guest Bio:Andrew is Teaching Pastor at King’s Church London, and has degrees in history and theology from Cambridge (MA) and King’s College London (PhD). He’s the author of several books, including Remaking the World, Incomparable, God of All Things, and Echoes of Exodus. You can follow him on Twitter. Andrew is married to Rachel and they have three children: Zeke, Anna and Samuel.Resources Mentioned:

• “Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West” by Andrew Wilson

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Hannah Anderson to have a conversation about the book of Ecclesiastes.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is the context of the book of Ecclesiastes?
• In the first verse, the word “preacher” is a complex word in Hebrew, can you help us understand that?
• What can we gather from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8?
• What would you say to the person whose life feels kind of meaningless?
• How does the book of Ecclesiastes show us how to demonstrate the full range of human feelings and how God engages with us?
• Why is the phrase, “all is vanity” repeated so many times?
• How can someone who is struggling with depression find comfort in the book of Ecclesiastes?

Guest Bio:Hannah Anderson lives with her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where her husband, Nathan, pastors Brookhill Baptist Church. Hannah is the author of several books, including Humble Roots, All That’s Good, Life Under the Sun. You can find more of her writing at sometimesalight.com or follow her on Twitter.Resources Mentioned:

• Ecclesiastes
• “Life Under the Sun” by Hannah Anderson
• “Turn, Turn, Turn” by Pete Seeger

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Molly Worthen to discuss how Jesus can transform the life of an academic.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is your story of how you became a Christian?
• What were the main barriers from keeping you from becoming a Christian?
• Can you share about your conversation with J. D. Greear?
• What pieces of evidence were you surprised by when you researched if Jesus was raised from the dead?
• What about the eye witness accounts of the gospels and their accuracy?
• What would you say to someone who has an academic background and doesn’t believe in anything supernatural?
• If someone said to you, I’m so glad that you believe in Jesus but it's just not for me, how would you respond?

Guest Bio:Molly Worthen is an associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a freelance journalist. She received her BA and PhD from Yale University. Her research focuses on North American religious and intellectual history. Her most recent book, Apostles of Reason, examines American evangelical intellectual life since 1945, especially the internal conflicts among different evangelical subcultures. Resources Mentioned:

• “The Resurrection of the Son of God” by N.T. Wright

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Jen Wilkin to have a conversation about the ten commandments and why they are important to us today.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What did you want to be when you grow up?
• What is an image bearer?
• Where do the ten commandments fit into the story of the Bible?
• Tell us about the first command and why it is at the top of the list.
• How do the ten plagues connect to the ten commandments?
• Why would we read and show interest in the ten commandments?
• What is the purpose of rules?
• Help us think through the commandments that dont intuitively make sense to us today.
• Why is the gospel beautiful and compelling?

Guest Bio:Jen Wilkin is an author and Bible teacher from Dallas, Texas. She has organized and led studies for women in home, church, and parachurch contexts. An advocate for Bible literacy, her passion is to see others become articulate and committed followers of Christ, with a clear understanding of why they believe what they believe, grounded in the Word of God.Resources Mentioned:

• Genesis 1:26-27, Exodus 20, Genesis 3-4, Exodus 7-11, Matthew 12:48-50, 1 Timothy 5:1-2 Matthew 5-7
• “Ten Words to Live By” by Jen Wilkin

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Peter Williams to have a conversation about the trustworthiness of the gospels.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How far off from Jesus's death and resurrection were the Gospels written?
• How can people remember the things Jesus said with such great detail decades after Jesus's resurrection?
• Why are there differences between the gospels in Jesus’s teachings?
• Why do the gospels have a different ordering of events?
• Why do we hear about Bartimaeus in one gospel and he doesn't have a name in another?
• Do the gospels use names as eye witness evidence?
• Can you tell us a bit more about the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15?
• Help us think through the historical context clues that the gospels were written in the place they claim to be written.
• When Jesus dies on the cross, the curtain in the temple is torn in two. Is there any historical record of this happening?

Guest Bio:Dr Peter J. Williams is the Principal and CEO of Tyndale House, Cambridge. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he received his MA, MPhil, and PhD in the study of ancient languages related to the Bible. Dr Williams is also an Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity in the University of Cambridge, Chair of the International Greek New Testament Project, and a member of the Translation Oversight Committee of the English Standard Version of the Bible. He assisted Dr Dirk Jongkind in Tyndale House’s production of a major edition of the Greek New Testament and his book Can We Trust the Gospels? has been translated into 10 languages.Resources Mentioned:

• Matthew 5-7, Luke 15, Genesis 33:4
• “New evidence for Hipparchus’ Star Catalogue revealed by multispectral imaging”
• “The Surprising Genius of Jesus” by Peter J. Williams
• “Can We Trust the Gospels?” by Peter J. Williams

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Keith Plummer to discuss how we can model the love of Jesus to others online and how to engage in embodied community.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Can you share your story of how you became a Christian?
• Where would you trace this transformation to?
• How has the online experience changed how students are thinking?
• How do Christians relate with others online?
• What does it look like to have embodied community in your life? How would you recommend someone to develop that community?
• Why is it that we want to be loved and heard?

Guest Bio:Keith Plummer serves as Dean and Professor of Theology at the School of Divinity at Cairn University. He holds a BA in Health and Society from Brown University, a MDiv with emphasis in Apologetics from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a PhD in Systematic Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife have two adult children.Resources Mentioned:

• “Five Evangelical Leaders” by Christopher Catherwood
• “2 Contents, 2 Realities” by Francis A. Schaeffer 
• “True Spirituality” by Francis A. Schaeffer 
• “Disruptive Witness” by Alan Noble 

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Andrew Hile to discuss why the book of Leviticus is important and what we can learn from reading and studying it.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Where does Leviticus fit into the first five books of the Bible?
• When you see the stories in Exodus are you supposed to see them stacking onto the stories in Genesis?
• What purpose is Leviticus fulfilling for us?
• How do the categories “clean and unclean” operate in Leviticus?
• What was the sacrificial system about in its original context?
• Was Leviticus written to an audience outside of the priests who were enacting the laws?
• How do we understand Leviticus from a New Testament perspective and how do we view the sacrificial system?
• How did you become a follower of Jesus?

Guest Bio:Andrew Hile grew up in Durban, South Africa and moved to Dayton, Ohio during highschool. In May 2022, he graduated from Harvard Divinity School with my master’s and, now, he is a doctoral student in Harvard’s Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, studying Hebrew Bible and Semitic languages. Andrew’s research centers on the composition, writing conventions, and scribal epistemologies behind ritual text production in ancient Israel.Resources Mentioned:

• Genesis 2-3, Genesis 15, Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28, Leviticus 10

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Mary Willson Hannah to discuss the book of Deuteronomy.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What do we miss if we give up reading the Old Testament before we get to Deuteronomy?
• What is Deuteronomy about?
• How do make sense of a passage like Deuteronomy 2:31-36 in light of the command that Jesus gives to love our enemies?
• Can you help us understand Deuteronomy 22:28-29 in the right context?
• Do we see a change in God’s character between the Old and New Testament? 
• How are singleness and marriage both good ways for followers of Jesus to live?

Guest Bio:Mary Willson Hannah (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is the director of women in ministry at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. She also teaches Old Testament at Memphis City Seminary. Mary enjoys teaching and training others to teach the Scriptures, especially in the context of the local church. She and her husband, Jeff, love all things Memphis.Resources Mentioned:

• Deuteronomy 2:31-36, Matthew 5:28-29, Deuteronomy 22:28-29, Exodus 22:16-17

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Christy Thornton to answer questions about the Trinity.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Has God always been Triune?
• Do other aspects of God’s identity change between the Old and New Testament?
• Is “let us make man in our image” written in plurality?
• If God was triune from the beginning why didn’t He make that clear from the beginning?
• Why is the Trinity not more clearly articulated in the New Testament?
• How do we know there are just three parts to God?
• How can all three parts be fully God and yet not all of God’s fullness?
• What differentiates each person of the Trinity?
• What exactly does it mean for Jesus to be the Son of God? How is it different from us being sons and daughters of God? How is this different from being a demi-god?
• If Jesus is fully God then He is perfect. If He is fully human then He is sinful, by definition, someone who is sinful can’t be perfect. How then can Jesus and God be one and the same?
• Who is God the Father? Who is God the Son? Who is the Holy Spirit?
• How do we know we aren’t projecting our human understanding and relationships onto God?

Guest Bio:Christy Thornton is Assistant Professor of Christian Thought and Associate Director of PhD Studies and Director of ThM Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has served with the International Mission Board in North Africa, and is currently a covenant member at the Summit Church. She has contributed to The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and numerous other publications.Resources Mentioned:

• Genesis 1-4, John 3:16

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Max Riesenhuber to have a conversation about the ethics and morality of artificial intelligence.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What first interested you about neuroscience?
• Can you talk about recent advancement in AI and where we might go?
• Do we have a moral responsibility to artificial intelligence beings?
• What do you say to scientists who say that humans are just computers in a flesh case?
• What is moral truth?
• Do you think we need to be concerned about the ethical direction that AI’s are taking us?
• What is the good side of artificial intelligence?
• How did you become a Christian?

Guest Bio:Max Riesenhuber is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Georgetown University Medical Center and Co-Director of the CNE. His research uses computational modeling, brain imaging and EEG to understand how the brain makes sense of the world, and how these insights can be translated to neuromorphic AI and augmented cognition applications. Max obtained his Master’s degree in physics from the University of Frankfurt, Germany, and his PhD in computational neuroscience from MIT. He has received several awards, including Technology Review’s “TR100”, one of the “100 innovators 35 or younger whose technologies are poised to make a dramatic impact on our world” and an NSF CAREER award.Resources Mentioned:

• “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro
• “The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind” by Mark A. Noll

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Mark Shepard to discuss his story of how he started following Jesus.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Tell us more about your upbringing when it comes to faith.
• Was there a time in your life where you just didn’t believe in God?
• Most of my Jewish friends identify with the cultural and tradition but don’t believe in God. Did you identify with that?
• How did you first become interested in Christianity?
• Was there anything in particular in the Bible that grabbed you?
• Tell us how you responded to the idea that you are actually deeply sinful?
• How have you found faith in Jesus has helped you navigate success and failure?
• How would you say that Christians can better understand the University? And how can we help people in the University who aren’t Christians understand Christianity?

Guest Bio:Mark Shepard is an associate professor at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). His research studies health care markets, with topics at the intersection of health, industrial organization, and public economics. Mark received a PhD in economics from Harvard University and an A.B. in applied math from Harvard.  He is married to Annetta Zhou and they have two daughters. Resources Mentioned:

• Matthew 5-7, Mark 10:41-45, Ephesians 2:11-22, Jeremiah 29:7

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Dr. Danielle Treweek to have a conversation about singleness and marriage.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is the spiritual climate of Australia?
• What are the health benefits of regular participation in church?
• What does the subtitle of your book, “Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church” mean?
• When you say “the life to come,” what do you mean?
• Why are you gonna be single forever?
• Help us understand how we got to our current viewpoint on singleness.
• How are we currently idealizing and idolizing marriage?
• What does the New Testament say about sexual immorality?
• How might those of us who are married help to reclaim the value of singleness?

Guest Bio:Dr. Danielle Treweek is a Christian theological researcher, author and speaker whose ministry focus lies in resourcing Christian individuals & communities on biblical singleness, sexuality, theological retrieval, worldview formation & other related topics.Resources Mentioned:

• Matthew 22:30
• “The Meaning of Singleness” by Danielle Treweek 
• “Marriage, a History” by Stephanie Coontz
• “No Greater Love” by Rebecca McLaughlin 

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Sam Alberry to discuss the topic of friendship.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is the New Testament vision for friendship?
• Why do Christians think they have to have it all together and not need friends?
• Do we tend to look to specific people to fulfill all of our relational needs?
• Where do you look in scripture for a picture of friendship?
• What mandate and model does Jesus give us for friendship?
• What would you say are the biggest challenges and opportunities among Christian men in friendship?
• What is a good mind sight to have as we are looking to make new friends?
• What is something that brings people together to form friendship?
• How can Christian’s approach friendship with the opposite sex with wisdom and holiness?
• What are your views on accountability friendships?

Resources Mentioned:

• Matthew 22:30
• “The Meaning of Singleness” by Danielle Treweek 
• “Marriage, a History” by Stephanie Coontz
• “No Greater Love” by Rebecca McLaughlin

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Season 3 of Confronting Christianity begins on August 22! In this episode, Rebecca McLaughlin previews what is to come in Season 3.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Who are some guests that will be ons season 3 and what will we talk about?

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Sherelle Ducksworth to talk about the holiday Juneteenth.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did you become a Christian?
• What is systematic theology?
• What is Juneteenth?
• Can you help us understand anthropological distortions?
• How would you respond to someone who looks at history and say that how Christians treated black people shows that Christianity isn’t true?
• How do Christians typically view or treat injustice?
• How can Christians be different than the culture in loving ways?
• How do we think about Juneteenth as an opportunity to point to Jesus?

Guest Bio:Sherelle Ducksworth serves as a Christian Studies professor at Anderson University. She holds M.S in sociology with a concentration on social stratification from Mississippi State University and a M.A. in theology from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. She is currently working on a Ph.D. In systematic theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Resources Mentioned:

• Acts 8:26-40, Isaiah 61:1
• What Is Juneteenth, And Why Should We Celebrate It? By Sherelle Ducksworth

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin talk about how Confronting Christianity has evolved over time, why Kyle will be stepping away from the podcast, and what to expect in the fall!Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why did we start this podcast?
• How have we experienced hosting this podcast?
• Kyle, why are you leaving the podcast?
• Are you excited about the future of the show?
• What are some future topics we can expect?

Resources Mentioned:

• Training the Church
• Starting Place
• Tiny Theologians Podcast

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Rachel Gilson and JD Greear to answer the question, what does someone do when they become a Christian and they are married to someone of the same sex?Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Rachel, can you share a little of your story?
• Why do you think it's important for people to hear from people like Rachel on this topic?
• How would you respond to someone who would think that the Bible is wrong on this one because they can’t believe that God wouldn’t want someone to not be happy?
• JD, why would you choose to address this issue in your book?
• What about somebody that becomes a Christian and they are married to someone of the same sex? Isn’t it worse for them to get a divorce?
• How do we help and care for people in this specific situation?
• What can be helpful and unhelpful in this conversation?

Guest Bio:Rachel Gilson is on the leadership team for theological development and culture for Cru. She is the author of Born Again This Way: Coming Out, Coming to Faith, and What Comes Next. Rachel has a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is pursuing a Ph.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to Andrew and has a daughter.J.D. Greear is the pastor of The Summit Church, in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Pastor J.D. Greear has authored several books, including but not limited to; Essential Christianity, What Are You Going to Do with Your Life?, Gaining by Losing, Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart. Pastor J.D. completed his Ph.D. in Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Chick-fil-A since January 2022 and recently served as the 62nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Pastor J.D. and his wife Veronica are raising four awesome kids: Kharis, Alethia, Ryah, and Adon.Resources Mentioned:

• 1 Corinthians 7:12–13, Matthew 19:1-12, Ephesians 5:22-33, Matthew 13:44-46
• “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis
• “Essential Christianity” by JD Greer

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by Esau McCaulley to have a conversation about Easter and why it is important. Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is your new book, “Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal” about?
• What would you say to someone who does not fully understand what Lent is?
• Is Easter Sunday just another Sunday? Isn’t every Sunday an opportunity to celebrate the risen Lord? What’s so special about Easter?
• What difference does it make that Jesus rose from the dead?
• What about the resurrection of the body?
• A number of years ago, in a wonderful article for the New York Times, you talked about the unsettling power of Easter and you said: “Easter is a frightening prospect. For the women, the only thing more terrifying than a world with Jesus dead was one in which he was alive.” What do you mean by that?
• What does the resurrection mean for us?
• What do you make of Judas?

Guest Bio:Dr. Esau McCaulley is associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and theologian in residence at Progressive Baptist Church, a historically Black congregation in Chicago. He is the author of the award-winning book Reading While Black and the children’s book Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit. He is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. His writings have also appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Christianity Today.Resources Mentioned:

• Mark 16, John 6:25-58, John 13:1-30
• “Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal” by Esau McCaulley
• ‘What Good Friday and Easter Mean for Black Americans Like Me” by Esau McCaulley
• “The Unsettling Power of Easter” by Esau McCaulley

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our  Patreon Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin answer questions submitted by listeners! Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How would you counsel a Christian who is invited to the gay wedding of a close relative or friend?
• How should Christians understand God's sovereignty and the image of God in the case of a person born with a physical and/or mental disability? Is disability a product of the Fall that God allows to remain in us, as in the case of other diseases that develop over our lifetimes? Are we "knit together in our mother's womb" with a disability, just as the Lord creates us male or female?
• What are some resources that may be helpful to me as I seek to learn more about critical race theory?
• Would love your insight on how to connect with people at church.
• Why do you believe the resurrection actually happened?

Resources Mentioned:

• John 9, Romans 8:28
• “Biblical Critical Theory” by Christopher Watkin
• Joni & Friends
• “Reading While Black” by Esau McCaulley
• The Inner Ring by CS Lewis

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by Sarah Irving Stonebraker to discuss the history of ideas around human rights, where Christians find the foundation for human rights, and where we are today.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Sarah, what is your story, how did you become a Christian?
• What is the idea that universal human equality is Christian fiction? How does the history of ideas point to this idea?
• When we say “human rights,” what are we walking about?
• Has there been an attempt to disguise the Judeo-Christian origins of human rights?
• Does it matter that we don’t have a shared sense of values and principles? Where are we at in the global west when we are talking about human rights?
• Is it hard for people to see how strongly human rights are tied to Judeo-Christian origins?
• People can say that Christians have a terrible track record with human rights, how do we grapple with that?
• What would you say is the one thing you found most attractive about Jesus?

Helpful Definitions:

• Human Rights: The idea that there are certain entitlements or rights that belong to all human beings regardless of their religion, sexuality, gender, etc., and regardless if laws recognize those rights.

Guest Bio:Sarah Irving-Stonebraker is an Australian-based academic, focusing on the history of Britain and the colonial world and especially the intersection of religion, science, and politics. Her first book, Natural Science and the Origins of the British Empire, investigates the way that England’s colonial empire became tied to the Protestant redemptive project of restoring humanity's original dominion over nature.  Sarah and her husband, Johnathan, have three children, Madeleine, Charlotte, and James.Resources Mentioned:

• Genesis 1:26-28
• “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis
• United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• “Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World” by Tom Holland
• “After Virtue” by Alasdair MacIntyre
• “The Abolition of Man” by C.S. Lewis

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin explore the question, does hypocrisy among Christians discredit Christianity?Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is hypocrisy? What are we talking about?
• Do you think people are leaving the faith because of some level of hypocrisy?
• How does the Bible help us to think about this?
• Has social media created a stronger gap between the witness of the church and hypocrisy or has it just magnified the gap that already exists?
• How do we engage with people who accuse Christians of hypocrisy?
• Does Christian obedience matter?
• What would you tell someone who said: “I don’t want to be in a community with Christians, because they are all hypocrites?”

Helpful Definitions: 

• Hypocrisy: A level of inconsistency in what someone says they are, or what they believe, or what they think is right to do; and what they actually do.

Resources Mentioned:

• 1 John 2:1, 1 Peter 2:9-15, Luke 8:9-14

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin have a conversation about what it looks like for Christians to argue ideas.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Ideas matter, right?
• Can Christians argue about ideas?
• Does it matter how we argue?
• What does it mean to argue with gentleness and respect?
• What does a good process look like to engage in these conversations?
• What is the danger in categorizing people?
• Is it okay to acknowledge when we don’t know the answer?
• What is the conversation that Christians have the opportunity to disagree with well?

Resources Mentioned:

• 1 Peter 3:15
• “Confronting Christianity” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• “Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World” by Tom Holland
• The Rest Is History Podcast

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by Praveen Sethupathy to talk about what science is and if it can dictate our identity.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did your first few years at Cornell change you?
• Why did you land on Christianity?
• When you went back to your family and told them you were a Christian, what did that look like?
• Have you scientific pursuits pulled you away from Christianity?
• When we are talking about science, what are we talking about?
• If science has explained what we are as human beings then why do we need a religious understanding of what we are as human beings?
• How as a scientist do you think about miracles?
• If we have a scientific explanation for the beginning of the world and the origin of humans, why would we be interested in Genesis 1-2?

Guest Bio:Dr. Praveen Setupathy is Professor of Physiological Genomics in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Director of the Center for Vertebrate Genomics at Cornell University, where he leads a research lab focused on genomic approaches to understand physiology and human disease. He received his BA degree from Cornell University and his PhD in Genomics from the University of Pennsylvania.Helpful Definitions:

• Science: A human endeavor, a set of tools that we use incorporating logic and mathematics the tools and precepts and theories from other sciences that human beings have developed through our faculties to make sense of the world. What are natural explanations for the things we see in the natural world.
• Scientific Knowledge: A body of knowledge and truth.

Resources Mentioned:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Genesis 1-2, Ephesians 3:10
• “The Myth of Certainty” by Daniel Taylor

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin faithfully explore the question, is Christianity exclusive?Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Is Christianity exclusive? What does that mean?
• Isn’t it arrogant to say there is only one true religion?
• When we say Christianity is exclusive and that Jesus is the only way, are we saying that there is no truth to be found in other religions?
• Can we find true things and engage in goodness and beauty outside of this?
• How do we love and engage with those who hold other beliefs?

Resources Mentioned:

• John 14:6

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin have a conversation about how people view organized religion, what tends to replace it in peoples lives, and why it is important for believers. Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Are people in Texas skeptical of organized religion?
• Do you see people who see themself as spiritual but not religious?
• What are other institutions that mimic organized religion that have gained popularity?
• What is a church for atheists?
• What do you say to someone who is a Christian but is not part of a local church?
• How does someone find a new church? What should they look for?
• Should we abandon organized religion?

Resources Mentioned:

• “Religion for Atheists” by Alain de Botton
• Harry Potter and the Sacred Text Podcast

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon, Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by Claude Atcho to have a conversation about how we can get better at talking about race.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Should we still be talking about race?
• How can we get better about talking about race?
• “Race is a biological fiction but a sociological reality.” What does that mean?
• How has this conversation changed over the last 6-10 years?
• How can engaging with African American literature help us understand a whole hearted approach to engage with the question of race?
• What would we say to a listener who might say: I am so tired of talking and hearing about race?
• How would you respond to someone who thinks we didn’t have these problems a few years ago?

Guest Bio:Claude Atcho serves as the pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Charlottesville, Virginia. He has previously served as a church planter and an adjunct English professor in Boston, Massachusetts, and as a pastor in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the author of Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make Our Faith More Whole and Just. Resources Mentioned:

• “The Secular Creed” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• “Reading Black Books” by Claude Atcho
• “Go Tell It On the Mountain” by James Baldwin

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin discuss the question; are transgender women, women?Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is a man? What is a woman?
• Is a transgender woman a woman?
• What issues has this confusion presented?
• What is our primary responsiblity we have as Christians in this conversation?
• To what degree should we advance Christian ethics in public squares that are not purposefully evangelistic?
• Are all feminists on the same page with the question of “are transgender women women?”
• What do we do with the question of “preferred pronouns?”

Helpful Definitions:

• Transgender woman: Someone who is biologically male but identifies as female.

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin talk about doubt and where we can find a stable foundation that honors and invites our doubt toward goodness, truth, and beauty.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Have you ever experienced profound doubt?
• What do you think are some of the most common places of doubt?
• What is doubt an invitation to?
• Do we find doubt in the bible?
• Where do you find a stable foundation that honors and invites your doubt toward goodness, truth, and beauty?
• If someone is listening to this episode and is experiencing or has experienced deep doubts about who God is, what God has done, and how God is inviting us to live…how would we encourage them?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Genesis 3, Matthew 26, John 21:15-19, ​​John 20:24-29
• The Chosen

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by Sam Alberry to have a conversation about the question, is God anti-gay?Questions Covered in This Episode:

• In March a new edition of Is God anti-gay is being released. Why are you updating the book? What’s changed?
• Did the first edition play out how you thought it would?
• Is God Anti-Gay?
• What do you say to the people who think and feel that they are their sexuality?
• Some suggest that we might look back on what we might call conservative Christian sexual ethics in the future as we look back on people who held unbiblical and oppressive views of women or other races in the past. Are we in danger of that?
• What is your encouragement to people who are looking for an answer to this question?

Guest Bio:Sam Allberry is a pastor, apologist, and speaker. He is the author of a number of books, including Is God Anti-Gay?, Why Bother with Church?, 7 Myths about Singleness, and What God Has To Say About Our Bodies. He has written extensively for numerous organizations, including The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, and Living Out.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone” by J.K. Rowling
• “Is God Anti-Gay? And Other Questions About Jesus, the Bible, and Same-Sex Sexuality” by Sam Alberry
• “Is God anti-gay?” by Sam Alberry

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Season 2 of Confronting Christianity begins on January 24! In this episode, Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin preview what is to come in Season 2.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What are we going to cover in Season 2?
• What guests are we going to have on this season?

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting PlaceConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin discuss Rebecca’s new book “Jesus Through The Eyes of Women.”Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Is there a cultural impression that Christianity is misogynistic?
• You just wrote a book on Jesus through the Eyes of Women: Why did you write this?
• How does the perspective of the women in the gospels showcase some unique truths of the person and ministry of Jesus that we would lose if we don’t look through that gaze?
• Have you always known that women were a part of Jesus’s disciples in the fullest sense or am I late to see this?
• Should Jesus be our model for how we interact with others, specifically women?
• What is the big takeaway from this book?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• John 4, Luke 10:38-42, Mark 5:25-34, Matthew 15:22-29
• The Lost Kitchen
• “Jesus through the Eyes of Women” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• “The Resurrection of the Son of God” by N.T. Wright

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin answer questions submitted by listeners!Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why did there stop being prophets? Surely God is still speaking (inspiring?) since the 1st century. Why is there no book of Rebecca? Or book of CS Lewis?
• Why does no one ever talk about divorce? It’s mentioned in the OT and New Testament, and the internet is full of polarized views on it?
• I would love to hear what you guys say about the times in scripture when someone prays and God seems to ‘change his mind…’
• “My friend and I are reading through Acts and what we are seeing there – the daily interactions of believers – is so different from our local church experience. What do we do with that?”
• How would you recommend thinking through God’s sovereignty alongside what some would say are natural consequences of living in a broken world. As in, is God using my X for good, or was that His intention for my life from birth?
• How much do we have to hate someone to not share the gospel with them? What are your thoughts on that?
• What’s your favorite bible passage?
• What does Imago dei mean? How does that interpretation influence our decisions regarding social justice, race relations, and other human rights relative to our current culture?
• Can you pronounce one another’s last names?
• My college-aged daughter has a Christian friend who just shared she is bisexual. Any practical ideas of how my daughter might bring truth into their friendship and conversations without affirming behavior that is outside of God’s plan or failing to respond or speak in love?

Helpful Definitions:

• Imago Dei: Image of God. Doctrine in which we believe that humans are created in the image of God and are worthy of unconditional dignity.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, 2 Timothy 3:16, Genesis 18:16-33, Exodus 34, Jonah, Genesis 50:20, John 11, John 1, Matthew 5-7, Romans 8

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin have a conversation about how cultural Christianity has impacted the global west.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Is it good that “cultural Christianity” is on the decline in the west?
• How do people who are culturally Christian respond to an invitation to church or to talk about God?
• How much of this is tied with the reckoning that has to happen with the past indulgences (the best and the worst) of western culture broadly?
• Do Christians in the global west, do we have an eeyore complex? Do we have an “everything we have ever done is bad” mindset?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• “Boom Town” by Sam Anderson
• “The Color of Compromise” by Jemar Tisby

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by Dr. Karen Swallow Prior to have a conversation about abortion and how we as Christians can engage with the sanctity of human life issues most helpfully.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Would you be willing to share a bit of your story: How did you come to follow Jesus? What led you into your field of study? What led you to become involved in right to life and sanctity of human life issues?
• How has your involvement in this changed over the years?
• How do Christians engage most helpfully?
• What was your response when you heard about the prospect of Roe’s overturn? How should we respond?
• How do we live in the tension of being pro-life and glad for progress on this and at the same time relate to friends to who this feels like an injustice?
• How do we be sober-minded enough to view how tragic the full sweep of abortion is?
• How do we move forward? What’s next?
• What do we do now practically?

Guest Bio:Dr. Karen Swallow Prior is Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, she is the author of numerous books, including: Booked, Fierce Convictions, On Reading Well, and the co-editor of Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues. She has a column for Religion News Service and her writing has appeared at Christianity Today, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Gospel Coalition…and just about everywhere else.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Operation Rescue
• CASA
   

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by Justin Giboney to have a conversation about how Christians view diversity. Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What led you to the work you do now with the And Campaign?
• What would you have said to my 2008 UK self, trying to navigate that seemingly Christian values were evenly distributed between two options?
• Don’t Christians oppose ethnic and cultural diversity?
• What kind of diversity should the Christian community consider as a part of its pursuit? Are there limits on what that entails?
• How can we help people understand that there are different kinds of diversity?
• How do you respond to people who say “there is only one race”? Is that a helpful framework?
• It does seem like within the church, there are competing visions for dealing with the history of Christian complicity in rejecting people outside the majority. What do you do when you have a group of Christians who are trying to live in the tension of conviction and compassion and they see the pathway forward differently from each other?
• How do we navigate that well when we all come to the table with very different feelings about the table?
• If a young white evangelical Christian came to you and said “I’ve got to leave the church, do you know how complicit Christians have been in the history of racism in this country?” How would you respond?
• Is the perception that the present reality of the black church in america looks very different when it comes to some of the most important moral issues. Is that perception true or misleading?
• Help us understand why people think that black americans / black Christians would vote democrat and would therefore have more progressive views? How do we not fall for this misleading characterization that the black church is at heart progressive in anti-scriptural sense?
• What continues to compel you to move forward?

Guest Bio:Justin Giboney is co-founder of the And Campaign, an attorney, a political strategist, a host on the Church Politics Podcast, and one of the co-authors of the book Compassion and Conviction.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Revelation 7
• And Campaign
• “Reading While Black” by Esau McCaulley

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin explore the question, are we better off without religion?Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Is America, in general, more religious than the UK?
• Would you say the perception of religion among non-believers is generally positive or negative?
• The change in 2005-2008 range, do you think the atheist tones were driving how people were thinking?
• Is there data around the psychological benefits of religious practice?
• What do you say when someone says: Religion is the cause of wars, bloodshed, and injustice? Religion hurts people…?
• Is religion bad or good? Why?
• Is there a benefit to religious worldviews abounding in the world whether they are Christian or not?
• Would you be comfortable describing yourself as a religious person?
• Are we better off without religion?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Matthew 16:24-26
• “God Is Not Great” by Christopher Hitchens
• Human Flourishing Program at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science
• “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin talk about deconstructing; where has this come from and how should we engage?Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Let’s talk about deconstruction: Where has this come from?
• What is the most helpful way for us to approach people's real questions?
• Don’t we also need cultural deconstruction?
• How often are we deconstructing how culture (sarcasm, the sexual revolution, systemic injustice) has influenced us and our beliefs?
• Can the church be salvaged? Why not just embrace an anti-institutional practice of following Jesus?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• John 6:60-71
• “After Doubt” by A. J. Swoboda

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by Lisa Fields to discuss if Christians are addressing the right questions and what we need to learn to engage with people who don’t believe.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Are Christians addressing the right questions?
• What made you want to start Jude 3?
• Rebecca, are there differences in the UK vs. US apologetics?
• Does it feel like so much of the “apologetics” discourse is rooted in answering objections that few consciously hold any longer?
• Can you share your own story of how and when you started thinking critically about your faith?
• What have you learned from discourse with people who have walked away from the faith?
• Are these conversations more personal than they have ever been?
• What are the 2-3 questions Christians in America need to start exploring?
• When you are talking with a skeptic, are they speaking for an entire group of people and not just themself?

Guest Bio:

• Lisa Fields is the founder of the Jude 3 Project, where her primary mission is to help the Black Christian community know what they believe and why they believe. Lisa is an author and speaks regularly at evangelism, apologetic, and biblical literacy events across the country. She has received several honors, including being recognized in Christianity Today for her work as an apologist in the African American community. She is a graduate of the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Religious Studies, and Liberty University with a Master of Divinity with a focus in Theology.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Jude 3 Project: Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter
• Why I Don’t Go Season 1
• Why I Don’t Go Season 2

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin discuss what objections and questions people have about Jesus and what is essential to believe about Him.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Two of your books are releasing this year: Jesus through the Eyes of Women and Confronting Jesus. Why all this interest in Jesus?
• Ok, but what if we’re wrong about Jesus? What are some objections people have about Jesus?
• When you and I engage with non-Christian friends and neighbors, what do they think about Jesus?
• How do we know we aren’t wrong about Jesus?
• What is essential to believe about Jesus?
• How do we walk confidently in the way of Jesus in a way that is faithful and persuasive?

Helpful Definitions:

• Epistemology: How we know what we know.
• Hypostatic Union: Jesus is one person with two natures; fully God and fully man.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• “Jesus through the Eyes of Women” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• “Confronting Jesus” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• Matthew 7:12-14

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by author Rachel Gilson to talk about why God cares about who we sleep with. Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Rachel, can you share your testimony?
• It seems like a lot of people care about sex and sexuality. Why?
• When you hear the phrase “authentic self,” where does that register with you?
• What is often missing from this conversation?
• Why do we care about the sexual lives of the people around us?
• Now: Christians have to be honest - we have not always been paragons of sexuality, purity, holy pleasure, and principle have we?
• When a christian finds themself in a meaningful relationship with somebody who is living out a sexual ethic that is inconsistent with scripture. Is there ever a time to proactively take a step forward and address it?
• What is the vision that the Bible gives for same sex relationships?

Guest Bio:Rachel Gilson is the author of Born Again This Way: Coming Out, Coming to Faith and What Comes Next. In addition, she is on on the leadership team for theological development and culture with Cru college ministry.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• “Born Again This Way: Coming Out, Coming to Faith and What Comes Next” by Rachel Gilson
• “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis
• “Creation Regained” by Albert Wolters
• “Confronting Jesus” by Rebecca McLaughlin

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church..Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our  Patreon. Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin faithfully explore the question, “how do we know anything?”Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How do we know anything?
• What is a thing to be known and how do we know it?
• Is it okay to talk about faith and trust in terms of knowing?
• How do we measure things that claim to be true?
• We both believe the God of the Bible is the one true God. Why do we believe these things and how do we know them?
• What about revelation?
• So, if you were chatting with a neighbor and they casually said to you, “How do you know anything” What might you say?

Helpful Definitions:

• Emotivism: My feelings are a reliable indicator of that which is true.
• Empiricism: Whatever I can touch, taste, see, and experience through my senses is true.
• Faith: Affirmation, affection, and allegiance.
• Revelation: The self-disclosure of God. God Himself is the sole and proper witness to himself. God has spoken in His word, the Bible, and it is a reliable testimony to who he is and his purposes for the world. 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• “Confronting Jesus” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• “The Sacred Canopy” by Peter L. Berger
• “Rethinking Sex” by Christine Emba
• “Salvation by Allegiance Alone” by Matthew W. Bates
• “The Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our  Patreon. Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin talk about why they decided to start the Confronting Christianity podcast and what you can expect on future episodes! Hint: Hard questions faithfully explored.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did we get here?
• Who are we?
• Why are we doing this?
• What’s our tagline and why?
• Why are we a good tag team?
• What if you and I don’t agree on something?
• What kinds of things will we explore on this podcast?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Knowing Faith
• “Confronting Christianity” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• The Family Discipleship Podcast
• “A Grief Observed” by C.S. Lewis
• “Confronting Jesus” by Rebecca McLaughlin

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our  Patreon. Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin talk about their new podcast Confronting Christianity, where they seek to faithfully explore hard questions.Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why another podcast?
• What is the goal of Confronting Christianity?

Follow Us:
Instagram  or TwitterConfronting Christianity is a podcast of:
Training the ChurchFor ad-free episodes and more content check out our PatreonOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship PodcastConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our  Patreon. Follow Us:
Instagram | TwitterOur Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny TheologiansConfronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠