Faith Seeking Understanding Podcast

Guest: Jason Thacker | Dr. Arnold interviews Jason Thacker about the influence of technology on Christian discipleship. Topics of conversation include, 1) What we mean when we say we are living in a digital age, 2) How technology is discipling us, 3) Some obstacles that technology presents to Christian discipleship, 4) How technology affects relationships, 5) Advice for those experiencing technology fatigue, and 6) Some resources for further thinking about technology.

Jason Thacker serves as chair of research in technology ethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Christian Ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his writing has been featured in Christianity Today, USA Today, and The Gospel Coalition. Jason is the editor of The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society (B&H Academic, 2023), and has authored several books, including Following Jesus in a Digital Age (B&H Books, 2022), and The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (Zondervan, 2020).

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Guest: Dr. Jason Dees | Dr. Arnold interviews Dr. Dees about biblical literacy. Topics of conversation include, 1) The reason Bible knowledge is decreasing today, 2) How to define biblical literacy, 3) The importance of the preaching ministry in a church, 4) The role of catechizing in the church, and what that can look like, 5) A resource for growing in biblical literacy.

Dr. Jason Dees is the Senior Pastor of Christ Covenant Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He hold a PhD in Biblical Spirituality from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has written articles for several publications, including The Gospel Coalition, 9Marks, and Radical.

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Guest: Dr. Stephen Presley | Dr. Arnold interviews Dr. Presley about cultural engagement in the early church. Topics of conversation include, 1) The early church’s response to living in a secular society and what we can learn from their example, 2) The political, cultural, and intellectual challenges experienced by the early church, 3) The call for evangelicals today to make an impact on society through the visible testimony of a transformed life, 4) The unique challenge of Christians losing previously held cultural and political influence, 5) What the goal of cultural engagement should be, 6) Resources in the church fathers for learning how to better engage culturally.

Dr. Stephen Presley is associate professor of Church History and Director of Research Doctoral Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a PhD from the University of St. Andrews, and is the author of The Intertextual Reception of Genesis 1-3 in Iranaeus of Lyons (Brill Academic, 2015). Dr. Presley is currently working on a book on cultural engagement in the church fathers with Eerdmans.

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Guest: Dr. J. Michael Thigpen | Dr. Arnold interviews Dr. Thigpen about covenants. Topics of conversation include, 1) A definition of covenant, 2) The significance of covenants in understanding the Biblical narrative, 3) What the Old Testament covenants illustrate,  4) The difference between dispensational and covenant theology, 5) Practical implications of God’s covenant to us, and 6) Resources for further reading on the topic of covenants.

Dr. J. Michael Thigpen is professor of Old Testament at Phoenix Seminary. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Evangelical Theological Society and the associate professor of Old Testament and Semitics at Talbot School of Theology. Dr. Thigpen holds a PhD from Hebrew Union College and is the author of Divine Motive in the Old Testament: A Comprehensive Survey and Analysis (Gorgias Press, 2015).

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Guest: Dr. Kyle DiRoberts | Dr. Arnold interviews Dr. DiRoberts about prayer. Topics of conversation include, 1) A definition of prayer, 2) Common barriers/obstacles to prayer, 3) How to use Scripture as a guide for prayer,  4) What it means to pray without ceasing, and 5) Resources for further reading on prayer.

Dr. Kyle DiRoberts is Department Chair and associate professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Arizona Christian University. He also serves as adjunct faculty at Phoenix Seminary, and as the Director of the Minister in Residence and Internship programs at Scottsdale Bible Church. Dr. DiRoberts holds a PhD from Dallas Theological Seminary and is the author of The Secret to Prayer: 31 Days to a More Intimate Relationship with God (B&H Books, 2021).

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Guest: Dr. J. Michael Thigpen | Dr. Arnold interviews Dr. Thigpen about repentance and forgiveness. Topics of conversation include, 1) The distinction between the corporate blessings and curses in the Mosaic Covenant and individual salvation, 2) The anticipatory, partial, and pedagogical aspects of God’s forgiveness in response to repentance, 3) How sin was forgiven in the Old Testament,  4) God’s role in our repentance, and 5) Resources for further reading on repentance and forgiveness.

Dr. J. Michael Thigpen is professor of Old Testament at Phoenix Seminary. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Evangelical Theological Society and the associate professor of Old Testament and Semitics at Talbot School of Theology. Dr. Thigpen holds a PhD from Hebrew Union College and is the author of Divine Motive in the Old Testament: A Comprehensive Survey and Analysis (Gorgias Press, 2015).

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Guest: Pastor Adam Bailie | Dr. Arnold interviews Adam Bailie about church planting. Topics of conversation include, 1) Adam’s experience with church planting, 2) How to measure success in church planting, 3) How to determine a call to church planting,  4) The church’s role in commissioning church planters, and 5) The importance of contextualization in church planting.

Adam Bailie serves as the lead pastor of Christ Church in Gilbert, AZ. Before planting Christ Church, he planted and was lead pastor of Grace Church of the Valley in Kingsburg, California. Adam currently serves on the national lead planter team with the North American Mission Board.

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Guest: Dr. Guy Prentiss Waters | Dr. Arnold interviews Dr. Waters about the Sabbath. Topics of conversation include, 1) The beginning of the Sabbath at creation, 2) The significance of the Sabbath commandment, 3) The distinction between laws unique to Israel and moral laws continuing into the New Testament,  4) Why the death penalty was required for violataing the Sabbath, and 5) Why it is important for Christians today to practice the Sabbath.

Dr. Guy Prentiss Waters is the James M. Baird, Jr. professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary. He also serves as a teaching elder in the PCA, and is the author of many books, Including The Life and Theology of Paul (Ligonier Ministries, 2018), For the Mouth of the Lord Has Spoken: The Doctrine of Scripture (Mentor, 2020), and, as part of the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series, The Sabbath as Rest and Hope for the People of God (Crossway, 2022).

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Guest: Dr. David Hogg | Dr. Arnold interviews Dr. Hogg about the Reformation. Topics of conversation include, 1) Some of the circumstances that led to the Reformation, 2) Common misconceptions about Christianity during the Dark Ages, 3) What the Reformers were responding to, specifically,  4) The value of learning from the Reformers’ theology, even when we disagree with some of their doctrine, and 5) A brief history of Protestantism.

Dr. David Hogg serves as Provost and Vice President of Academic Administration at Phoenix Seminary. He previously taught at Beeson Divinity School and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has over a decade of pastoral experience in the U.S., Canda, Britain, and the Czech Republic. Dr. Hogg holds a PhD in Medieval Theology from St Andrews University.

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Guest: Will Standridge | Dr. Arnold interviews Will Standridge about youth ministry. Topics of conversation include, 1) What is youth ministry? 2) What is the goal of youth ministry?, 3) How can youth ministry best prepare students for college and adulthood?  4) Why all of Scripture is relevant and important to teach in youth ministry, and 5) Resources for faithful youth ministry

Will Standridge serves as the preteen and student pastor at Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas. He received a BA from Boyce College and an MDiv from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Will has written numerous blogs and articles on student ministry.

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