Forward by Faith

Happy New Year! In this first podcast of 2021, we dive right into the definition of a disciple based on Jesus’ words to his first disciples in Mark 1. We see that a disciple is a person who follows Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, and commits to the mission of Jesus. Discipleship involves the entire person—head, heart and hands. In other words, Jesus is transforming all of us to look like him in our thoughts, emotions, affections and behavior.

In this final part of our interview with Dr. Peter Anderson, we dig into a few of the ethical issues facing the church and talk through some of the ways churches can help equip people to live as disciples in light of the ethical challenges today.

Resources mentioned by Dr. Anderson on this episode:

• Theology Commons for the College of Theology and Seminary at GCU: https://theologycommons.org/
• Scott Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics
• Robertson McQuilkin and Paul Copan, An Introduction to Biblical Ethics
• Ethics Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics 
• C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man 
• Richard Hays, The Moral Vision of the New Testament 
• David Gushee and Glen Stassen, Kingdom Ethics
• Harold Huebner, An Introduction to Christian Ethics: History, Movements, People

What is the connection between ethics and living as a follower of Jesus? Is it essential that we understand the role of ethics in making disciples who make disciples?  In the first of two episodes, we dig into these questions with Dr. Peter Anderson, Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics at Grand Canyon Theological Seminary and College of Theology. 

This week we conclude our interview with Eddie McLoughlin, one of Faith Bible Church's local missionaries. In this second of two episodes, we dive into a discussion of how individuals and church communities can come alongside prison ministries to bring the hope of the gospel to inmates and their families. To support Eddie McLoughlin Ministries, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected].

This week we interview one of Faith Bible Church's local missionaries, Eddie McLoughlin of Eddie McLoughlin Ministries, a ministry which exists to serve the incarcerated community and their families inside and outside of the prison system in the state of Arizona. In the first of two episodes, Eddie shares how he came to spend 25 years in prison and how this experience led him to follow Jesus. To support Eddie McLoughlin Ministries, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected].

Cultivating a heart of gratitude is a rhythm of discipleship for followers of Jesus. And we couldn’t think of a better time to talk about gratitude, celebration and thanks than at Thanksgiving! In this episode we highlight some of the ways we learn to live a life of thanks and praise unto God.

If we really want to learn a new language we must immerse ourselves in it and practice it over and over again. Becoming fluent in the gospel happens in the same way—after believing the gospel we must intentionally rehearse it (to ourselves and others) and immerse ourselves in its truth. The gospel impacts us not just theologically, but practically. In this episode we dive into what it means to become a gospel fluent people who learn how to speak the truths of Jesus into the everyday stuff of life.

Followers of Jesus are called to grow in the context of gospel community—in a community of people seeking to look more and more like Jesus in the everyday stuff of life. How do we grow? We grow as we experience the life of God’s Spirit working though God’s word, through prayer, and through God’s people. Christ-centered community helps us to mature and bear the flourishing fruit of the Spirit in a way that cannot be done in isolation. We need each other in order to grow in the gospel.

One of the ways we grow in our relationship with God is to cultivate a posture of prayer in our lives. Prayer is the primary way we communicate with God and the means in which God uses to draw us into his presence. In this episode we discuss what prayer is, why we should pray, and a few tips that can help guide us in developing a praying life.

Over the past few weeks we’ve been exploring how a follower of Jesus might approach politics and the cultural landscape by living out the priorities of God’s kingdom. In our last episode before the 2020 Presidential election, we dig in some more on how the Story of God is in a sense all about politics. We also look briefly at how biblical theology can help guide us in our political practices.