Todd is thrilled to fly solo today as Carl dons his bathing attire (BMP) to soak up some much-needed sun at the Jersey shore. It’s just as well; Dr. Trueman doesn’t really get along with cheerful guests! Todd is delighted to share a fun conversation with Lisa Updike, the decidedly cheerful director of Children’s Ministry at Covenant Presbyterian Church (where Todd also serves). Lisa works closely with the discipleship ministry of the PCA and is the author of three wonderful children’s books. She talks about what seemed to be the focus of children’s ministries in the US for the past many years, and the pressing need to turn that around into equipping children to live in today’s world. 
Should children know about the nature of suffering? How do we teach them? Should they be in “children’s church” or “adult church”? What can parents do to prepare their children for Sunday services? How can churches equip parents to teach children at home? Lisa shares some wonderful advice on such topics and suggests how we might equip our children to defend themselves—even engage—in the culture wars that have come to our doors.
Show Notes and Resources
·The Bible is Not Boring! by Lisa Updike
·Church is Not Boring! by LIsa Updike
·About Being a Boy or a Girl: Discussing Gender and Marriage With Little Ones in Light of God’s Word by Lisa Updike
·Lisa’s Worship Service material (at the bottom of the linked webpage)
·Children and Suffering material
·SkitGuys.com

Children, Church is Not Boring!

Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation about things that count. Todd Pruitt and Carl Trueman deliver a humorous, informal podcast with bite. Listen for engaging and thought-provoking conversations on the challenges facing the Church and the Christian, and decide for yourself if words spoken in a British accent truly carry more weight…

Religion & Spirituality

Other

Spirituality

Christianity

Buddhism

Hinduism

Judaism

Islam

Critical theory and its expression in fields like critical race theory, critical pedagogy, and queer theory are having a profound impact on our culture. Carl and Todd sit down with Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer, authors of Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology, to discuss how contemporary critical theory’s ideas about race, class, gender, identity, and justice have dramatically shaped how people think, act, and view one another—in Christian and secular spheres alike.
As a robust meta-narrative worldview, critical social theory and its expansive expressions are categorically against biblical Christianity. – Pat Sawyer
While Neil and Pat acknowledge that critical theory can provide some legitimate insights into issues impacting our culture today and urge Christians to condemn racism and seek justice, racial healing, and unity, they argue that the false assumptions at the heart of critical theory pose a serious threat to both the church and society at large. 
We are pleased to offer a few copies of Critical Dilemma for our listeners, thanks to the generosity of Harvest House Publishers. Register here for the opportunity to win.
 
Show Notes:
Natasha Crane’s article, “Here Comes the He Gets Us Campaign Again: Why Its Portrayal of Jesus is Still a Problem: https://natashacrain.com/here-comes-the-he-gets-us-campaign-again-why-its-portrayal-of-jesus-is-still-a-problem/
Stand to Reason with Greg Koukl: https://www.str.org/
God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis: https://a.co/d/hNVsBWw

Critical Dilemma

Back in 2013, Carl and Todd launched Mortification of Spin with their first episode, "Rock Star Pastors in Las Vegas," sharing a microphone in a small underground bunker. All these years later, they no longer share a mic, but they're still going strong, celebrating their 500th first-run episode. Joining them for this momentous occasion are their good friends, Kevin DeYoung and Matt Eusey. After reminiscing about the early days, the conversation turns toward the importance of meaningful friendships. The guys consider the benefits of friendship and the current challenges we face as these most vital relationships have undergone a dramatic transformation. 
It really is important to have friends. It's not a sufficient condition for being faithful in ministry, but I do think it is a necessary condition, and it's really important to have people to know who you really are and [to] joke with, but also be challenged by, and know that they are looking over your shoulder in a good way. – Kevin DeYoung
For best results, enjoy this special episode as a video podcast on YouTube.
The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is pleased to offer a box of Mortification of Spin swag for our podcast fans. Register here for the opportunity to win.
Show Notes:
Listen to "Rock Star Pastors in Las Vegas” :https://mortificationofspin.podbean.com/e/rock-star-pastors-in-las-vegas/
Mortification of Spin on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq5LVxh1Goi5_ZbzUqOaDNjSw1hicGfMF
Mortification of Spin swag:https://reformedresources.org/mortification-of-spin/

Celebrating 500 Episodes!

Mark Jones is back on the podcast today, chatting with Carl and Todd about his latest book, The Pilgrim's Regress: Guarding against Backsliding and Apostasy in the Christian Life. Vowing not to write another book for a long time because of the toll it takes on his life expectancy, Mark explains why he chose to address the uncomfortable topic of backsliding believers—and, to a lesser extent, apostasy—in his latest work. 
After Covid and all that it did to the church, there's a very serious need to confront what is an obvious pastoral issue for many pastors, and that is a lot of people have fallen away or become extremely lazy in their Christian living. - Mark Jones
An important topic infrequently discussed in many Reformed churches, Mark addresses backsliding in this serious, hopeful, and pastoral work informed by wise theologians of the past and present. 
P&R Publishing has provided a few giveaway copies of The Pilgrim's Regress: Guarding against Backsliding and Apostasy in the Christian Life for our listeners. Register here for the opportunity to win.
Show Notes:
For a copy of The Pilgrim’s Regress: https://reformedresources.org/the-pilgrims-regress-guarding-against-backsliding-and-apostasy-in-the-christian-life-paperback/
Antinomianism and other books by Mark Jones:
https://reformedresources.org/books/authors/mark-jones/
Mark recommends the following titles:
Personal Declension and Revival of the Soul by Octavius Winslow:
https://reformedresources.org/personal-declension-and-revival-of-religion-in-the-soul-paperback/
Holiness by JC Ryle:  https://reformedresources.org/holiness-its-nature-hindrances-difficulties-and-roots-hardcover/

Pilgrim's Regress

The Deconstruction of Christianity
What exactly is deconstruction? The movement has been defined in many different ways. Today’s guests co-authored a book to clear up the confusion. Alisa Childers, author of Another Gospel?, and Tim Barnett, creator of Red Pen Logic, sit down with Todd and Carl to discuss the true nature of faith deconstruction, which is sweeping through our churches and is disrupting, dismantling, and destroying the faith of so many.
“Sadly, because of the Biblical illiteracy in our culture, because we live in a mic-drop world where someone just makes a claim and then they drop the mic and walk away as if they won an argument…that’s why these things are so persuasive, and they get so many likes and so many shares and such a following.” – Tim Barnett
Alisa and Tim will help you understand what deconstruction is, where it comes from, why it is compelling to some, and how it disorients the lives of so many, as well as how to think through the main issues and explore wise and loving ways to respond from a biblical worldview. Don’t miss this important conversation. 
Tyndale Press has provided a few giveaway copies of The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond for our listeners. Register here for the opportunity to win.
 
Show Notes:
To purchase a copy of Alisa and Tim’s book: https://reformedresources.org/the-deconstruction-of-christianity-what-it-is-why-its-destructive-and-how-to-respond-softcover/
Red Pen Logic: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmIwZDSKSeNboqWKtgX7UrA
Tim’s website:  https://www.str.org/tim-barnett
Alisa’s Website: https://alisachilders.com/

The Deconstruction of Christianity

Originating as lectures delivered at the University of Durham over 80 years ago, The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis is a classic and one of the most debated of his extraordinary works. Lewis sets out to persuade his audience of the importance and relevance of universal values such as courage and honor in contemporary society. 
Listen in as Carl and Todd discuss why Christians today have much to learn from reading Lewis’ astonishingly prophetic and insightful lectures.
“I think what Lewis was doing, and probably was not fully aware he was doing, was putting his finger on what would manifest itself as the underlying problem of the modern world, which is the complete collapse of the notion of human nature: what it means to be a man, what it means to be human.”  – Carl Trueman
Intervarsity Press provided a few giveaway copies of The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis by Jason Baxter for our listeners. Congratulations to our winners: Robin F. from Trumann, AK, Andrew M. from Savage, MN, and Ben G. from Livonia, MI.
Intervarsity has also provided a discount code for our listeners. Enter IVPPOD20 at check-out to get 20% off Jason’s book and all other titles at ivpress.com, plus free shipping!
 
Show Notes:
The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis: https://a.co/d/6SnPqL2
After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory by Alasdair MacIntyre: https://a.co/d/2UDT4Wf
After Humanity: A Guide to C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man by Michael Ward: https://a.co/d/4ZSIAgF
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Children, Church is Not Boring!

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