Gospel Simplicity Podcast

Recently, I visited Church of the Nativity, a cutting-edge Catholic megachurch outside of Baltimore, MD. After I posted the video, the team at Nativity reached out to me and asked if I wanted to learn more about the story of the church and their philosophy.

I was thrilled.

So, a few weeks ago, I sat down with Tom Corcoran, one of the people behind turning this dying church into one of the fastest growing, most interesting Catholic parishes in the country.

Learn more: https://www.rebuiltparish.com/
https://www.churchnativity.com/
 @rebuiltparish  

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In this interview, I'm joined by Fr. Ben Crosby, an Episcopal priest and Ph.D. student at McGill university, to discuss the 39 articles, Anglican theology, and how to restore the Episcopal Church to its theological roots. Along the way, Fr. Ben shares the fascinating story of how liberals and conservatives have both opposed the 39 articles, whether "via media" is a good way to describe Anglicanism, and why being more Protestant makes Anglicans more Anglican. It's a fascinating discussion, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did

https://substack.com/@bencrosby

Books mentioned:
IVP 1662 Book of Common Prayer: https://amzn.to/3UqkZO9
Companion to the Book of Common Prayer: https://amzn.to/41zbWyb
Anglican Book of Homilies: https://amzn.to/412dMri

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In this interview, I discuss ethics, beauty, and Orthodoxy with Dr. Timothy Patitsas. In doing so, we get to what he sees as the heart of the divide between the Christian East and the Christian West. It's a wide-ranging discussion that had me on the edge of my seat. 

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Timothy G. Patitsas (Ph.D. Catholic University of America) has been the Interim Dean of Hellenic College since January of 2020 and the Assistant Professor of Ethics at Holy Cross since the Fall of 2005.

Dr. Patitsas' Book: https://amzn.to/3UhdZTK
Dr. Patitsas' Short Film: https://www.beautyfirstfilms.com/amphilochios

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n this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Andy Messmer to discuss the Spanish Reformation--which, if you're anything like me, you might have never heard about. 

In our wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Messmer shares some of the key figures and ideas that came out of the Spanish Reformation as well as why it ultimately failed to take hold. To understand that, we dive into the Spanish Inquisition as well as what the church in Spain looks like today. 

Dr. Messmer is at the forefront of studying the Spanish Reformation, and it was a true privilege to get to learn from him. 

Dr. Messmer's Translation of Reina's Confession of Faith: https://amzn.to/3ISGHru

Dr. Messmer's Book on Protestantism (in Spanish): https://amzn.to/3ITWRRx

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Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

00:00 - Why It's Unknown
03:03 - What Happened
10:17 - Mystical Influence
14:40 - The Inquisition
21:20 - The Ecumenical Spirit
31:55 - What we can learn from them
36:10 - Reading the Anabaptists
39:11 - The State of the Church in Spain
47:12 - Arguments for Protestantism
53:30 - Resources for the Spanish Reformation

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In this video I'm joined by Pastor Joshua Schooping to discuss the story of why he joined the Orthodox Church and why he ultimately left Eastern Orthodoxy to become a Lutheran pastor. 

In this course of the interview, we tackle questions about the consistency of Eastern Orthodox teaching, penal substitutionary atonement, the state of Orthodoxy in America, and why Lutheranism presented the most appealing option to Schooping in terms of theology. 

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity    
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

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Ever since Pew Research put out its Religious Landscape Study, people have been making claims about Christianity making a comeback. Within this, three claims in particular have stood out on the internet: 
1. Young people are getting more religious.
2. Young men are becoming more religious.
3. People are flocking to traditional churches. 

In this video, we put all those claims to the test as Pew Researcher, Dr. Chip Rotolo (Ph.D., University of Notre Dame) unpacks the details of this study, separating fact from fiction. 

Check out the study: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/
Find chip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chip.rotolo/

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In this video I'm joined by Javier Perdomo, a former Baptist pastor who became Lutheran and now creates videos about Protestantism on YouTube with special attention given to stories of people who chose traditional Protestantism over Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

You can check out his channel here:  youtube.com/@javierperd2604  
Javier's Substack: https://substack.com/@javierperd2604

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity    
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Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity...
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

00:00 - Trends in Protestant Conversions
10:40 - Certainty, Unity, Rootedness
17:03 - Ecclesial Anxiety
27:35 - The Dangers of the Internet
34:00 - "Ecclesialist"
45:30 - Sola Ecclesia
49:20 - Inconsistency in RC apologetics
01:00:00 - Does History support Protestantism?
01:05:15 - Advice for Protestants

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In this conversation, Dr. Jordan Daniel Wood discusses the intersection of St. Maximus the Confessor's thought and the concept of universalism. He explores how Maximus's understanding of creation as incarnation challenges traditional views of time and the nature of the incarnation itself. Wood argues that the incarnation is not merely a historical event but the very logic of creation, revealing a deeper connection between God and humanity. He emphasizes the importance of scripture and personal experience in shaping Maximus's theological insights, ultimately presenting a vision of a God who desires to be in relationship with creation. In this conversation, JDW explores the implications of viewing creation as an incarnation, addressing concerns about pantheism and secularism. He discusses the ethical responsibilities that arise from this perspective, particularly in relation to how we treat the poor and the environment. The dialogue also delves into the theological implications of animals in heaven, drawing on the thoughts of Maximus. Furthermore, JDW reflects on the historical reception of Maximus's ideas and the dynamic nature of tradition in theology, emphasizing the importance of engaging with both historical and contemporary theological insights.

Check out his book: https://amzn.to/4dpkFI8
Check out his Substack: https://substack.com/@jordandanielwood1

Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Maximus and Universalism
06:20 Maximus's Vision of Creation as Incarnation
12:46 Theological Implications of Time and Incarnation
22:28 Plan A vs. Plan B: The Nature of the Incarnation
25:54 Maximus's Approach to Theology: Scripture and Experience
33:17 The Ethical Implications of Creation as Incarnation
39:20 The Nature of God and Creation
46:45 Theological Reflections on Animals in Heaven
52:37 Maximus and the Reception of Tradition
01:01:01 Tradition and the Dynamic Nature of Theology

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In this conversation, Dr. James Prothro discusses the significance of confession in Catholic theology, emphasizing its biblical foundations and the necessity of addressing post-baptismal sin. He explores the relationship between sin, justification, and transformation, highlighting the importance of understanding sin's effects on the soul. 

Check out his books: 
On Confession: https://amzn.to/44BUV96
On Justification: https://amzn.to/3FlHTCe

Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

00:00
Understanding Confession and Its Necessity
10:12
The Distinction Between Justification and Transformation
15:46
Historical Perspectives on Sin and Forgiveness
25:21
The Role of Mediation in Confession
31:19
The Role of Mediation in Faith
39:42
Understanding Penance and Its Purpose
50:25
Old Testament Foundations of Confession
01:00:06
Encouragement for First-Time Confession

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In this conversation, Dr. Shane Owens discusses the enduring appeal of Augustine's 'Confessions,' exploring its literary, philosophical, and theological significance. He emphasizes the role of scripture, the nature of sin, and the importance of community and friendship in Augustine's journey. The dialogue also highlights the influence of Monica, Augustine's mother, and the church in his conversion, illustrating how these elements intertwine to create a profound narrative of faith and introspection.

Check out his book, Return to the Heart: https://stpaulcenter.co/returnto-theheart

Find the Shane and the St. Paul Center on Instagram: @stpaulcenter @emmausroadpublishing and @drowenstheology

My article mentioned in the video: https://open.substack.com/pub/austinsuggs/p/communion-and-contemplation?r=2hkvet&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

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00:00 - The Enduring Appeal of Augustine's Confessions
03:0 - Understanding the Nature of Confessions
06:0 - The Role of Scripture in Augustine's Life
08:4 - The Climactic Moment of Conversion
12:0 - Certainty of the Heart vs. Certainty of the Mind
30:3 - The Certainty of the Heart
32:3 - The Role of Friendship in Transformation
39:2 - Understanding Sin Through the Pear Tree
47:5 - The Influence of Monica
55:5 - The Church's Role in Augustine's Journey

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