Brax Tacks

If you have social anxiety, or think that you're socially awkward, this episode will help you! We get really practical about how to have a good conversation with someone and build friendship. If you're a Christian, we also give practical advice on how to share your faith with your friends.

We hope you enjoy!

This week's episode is a recording from a recent sermon on the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18.

CW: If you have experienced sexual assault, we want to let you know that there is a story towards that end of the sermon that might be triggering.

Emily Klotz was abducted and raped, but chose to forgive her rapist after his imprisonment.

This week, we recap a recent live discussion on questions regarding Genesis 1–3.

The questions are:

"This is a really stupid question, but how would a Christian historian explain cavemen? Did they even exist? Is that was Adam and Eve were?"

"Why are we here? (Just to suffer)"

"Why couldn't God have established an 'Abrahamic Covenant' with Adam and Eve or make a way for them to sacrifice something in payment for their sins? basically: Make a way for them to be righteous by their faith? was it that they rejected God fully aware, fully believing, that he was there?"

In this episode, Preston and Brax talk about sharing your faith in the workplace, the role of evangelism in the Christian life, and the importance of personal obedience to Jesus before telling people about Christ.

Two things: we tried recording video as well as audio, but it just didn't work out. Sorry if we talk about being on camera, since we're obviously not this time.

We also recorded this episode after an episode about the GOP's recent shift on its stance on abortion. If you want to have a conversation about this, please reach out. But for the moment, we're not going to release that conversation. In hindsight, I (Brax) felt like I was coming into that conversation with a lot arrogance and self-justification. That's not what we want to add into our community. Thanks for your understanding!

In this episode, we cover questions that were sent in about dating and what the Bible might have to say about it.

We hope that you are helped by the advice in it but be sure to stay for the end and the encouragement that follows all the advice!

Plus: what if Jesus doesn't feel real to me?

How do I help my friends who are doubting their faith?

How do I help my friends who are atheists?

Disclaimer: there is a lot of good that goes on at youth conferences. There is a shared sense of being a part of a larger community than normal. There can be a laser-focus on the gospel. It can be a space in which youth are more open to the truth of the gospel.

However, in this episode, we discuss the red flags to watch out for at a youth conference.

In this episode, we discuss the mechanics of the cross, the importance of rituals in the Christian life, and what the Bible has to say about "fermented drinks."

DISCLAIMER: If you or your family have consciences that do not allow for the consumption of alcohol, then the third act of the episode might not be for you. However, we always recommend listening to Christians who have different viewpoints on things like this, so we hope you'll listen to the end. We know we certainly learned a lot from Dr. Dunne-- especially in this area.

Dr. Dunne's research interests lie primarily in the New Testament, the life and letters of Paul (esp. Galatians), Christian origins, and second temple Judaism. Within these frameworks he is fascinated by many things, including: theologies of suffering and mortality, ritual practices and participation with Christ, symbolism associated with ancient fermented beverages, critiques of imperial ideology, intertextuality with antecedent texts, and the reception of the Bible in contemporary popular culture.

He also has an upcoming book on alcohol in the Bible titled The Mountain Shall Drip Sweet Wine (as a part of Zondervan's Biblical Theology for Life series) which is expected to release next year.

Thank you, Dr. Dunne for joining us for this episode! We hope y'all enjoy our conversation with him as much as we did!

Erik Kargel is the director of artistic events on Bethel University's Student Government. He joins us today for a discussion about music, connecting with God, and the way that worship music disciples us. We hope you enjoy!

This week, we have a very special guest, Dr. Jeannine Brown.

Dr. Brown has focused much of her research and writing on the Gospels, hermeneutics, and interdisciplinary integration. In addition to a book on biblical hermeneutics (Scripture as Communication, now in second edition) and two books on integration, she has published three commentaries on Matthew's Gospel and one on Philippians (Tyndale NT series). She is a member of the NIV translation team and is an editor for the NIV Study Bible, revised edition (2020). Her current writing projects include a commentary 1 Peter (NICNT) and book on themes in 1 Peter.

She received her BA at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Music and went on to Bethel Seminary for her Master's and received her PhD at Luther seminary.

It was an absolute privilege and joy to have Dr. Brown on the show and we hope y'all will enjoy listening to our conversation with her as much as we enjoyed having it!