In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone are joined by Rev. Matt Reynolds, President of Spirit and Truth Ministries and alumnus of Asbury Theological Seminary, for a candid and compelling conversation about renewal, evangelism, and the cost of real obedience to Jesus.

Rev. Reynolds shares his personal journey from local church pastor to renewal leader, reflecting on the moment he realized he was preaching the gospel weekly while rarely talking about Jesus outside church walls. What follows is a testimony of spiritual awakening sparked through prayer, repentance, and deep conviction that eventually led him to step away from a “dream job” in ministry and into a missionary posture within the American church.

The conversation explores themes of spiritual hunger, presence-based leadership, prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, and the dangers of consumer-driven Christianity. Rev. Reynolds also describes the heart and mission behind Spirit and Truth Weekends, where churches are invited to slow down, seek God together, and practice everyday obedience through prayer, testimony, and simple acts of evangelism.

MENTIONS

Firebrand Magazine

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

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In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone welcome Dr. Lynn Cohick, Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Director of Houston Theological Seminary at Houston Christian University, for a wide‑ranging conversation on Scripture, scholarship, women in the church, and the global body of Christ.

Dr. Cohick shares her faith journey and scholarly path, shaped both by encouragement and by institutional barriers faced by women pursuing advanced theological study. The conversation explores her work on the Pauline letters, second‑century Christianity, biblical interpretation through a global lens, and the formative role of community in reading Scripture faithfully.

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Society of Biblical Literature (SBL)

Houston Christian University

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

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What is the purpose of Christian higher education—and why does it still matter today?

In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone are joined by Dr. David Hoag, President of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), for a rich conversation on the calling, challenges, and enduring gift of Christian higher education.

Dr. Hoag reflects on how colleges and seminaries shape not only careers, but faith, vocation, and lifelong formation. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, he shares insights into the importance of strong governance, accountable leadership, and mission‑centered vision, especially in a season of rapid cultural, demographic, and regulatory change.

The conversation explores key issues facing Christian higher education today, including:

Whether you are an educator, parent, student, pastor, or church leader, this episode invites listeners to reconsider why higher education is such a formative gift—and how Christian institutions can faithfully respond to today’s challenges with clarity, courage, and hope.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

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In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone welcome Archbishop Foley Beach, former Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America and current Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South, for a wide-ranging conversation on faith, leadership, renewal, and the global Church.

Archbishop Beach shares his personal journey of faith—from a turbulent childhood and a life-changing encounter with Christ to a calling shaped through youth ministry, theological formation, and decades of ecclesial leadership. Reflecting on his time as Archbishop, he offers insight into the challenges and opportunities of shepherding a growing communion amid cultural upheaval, global realignment, and theological conflict.

The conversation explores the Anglican “three streams” tradition—Catholic, Evangelical, and Charismatic—and its resonance with Wesleyan theology, highlighting the importance of holding Scripture, sacramental life, and the empowering work of the Holy Spirit together. 

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

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In this episode, Dr. David Watson is joined by Dr. Kevin Brown, President of Asbury University, for a wide-ranging conversation about Christian leadership, higher education, and spiritual formation in an age of rapid cultural change. Drawing on his journey from banking to Christian higher education, Dr. Brown reflects on leading through unprecedented moments—from the COVID-19 pandemic to the Asbury Outpouring—and what those seasons revealed about humility, discernment, and shared leadership.

Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities facing Generation Z, particularly their deep spiritual openness paired with skepticism toward institutional Christianity. The conversation examines why authenticity, embodied faith, and moral coherence matter more than ever, and how Christian higher education can serve as a formative space that integrates intellectual rigor, ordered love, and faithful practice.

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Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone are joined by Dr. Ellen Marmon, Professor of Discipleship at Asbury Theological Seminary, to explore what faithful discipleship looks like across a lifetime. Drawing from her decades of ministry in the local church, classroom, and global settings, Dr. Marmon reflects on her own Emmaus Road faith journey, one marked by faithful relationships, gentle formation, and the steady presence of Christ.

The conversation highlights Wesleyan discipleship as lived theology, where belief and practice remain inseparable. Dr. Marmon describes the hope-filled vision of prevenient grace, the role of worship as an often-overlooked pathway to discipleship, and the importance of engaging the whole person—heart, mind, body, and community. 

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

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In this episode, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone step back from interviews to share insights gathered from months of travel across the country. From seminary conferences and campus ministry visits to worship gatherings and leadership meetings, they explore how theology is lived, questioned, and rediscovered in real places by real people.

As they recount conversations with students, pastors, scholars, and church leaders, this episode examines spiritual hunger in a moment shaped by post–cultural Christianity, the decline of “beige” faith, and the renewed desire for depth, orthodoxy, and embodied discipleship. They reflect on what they are seeing among college students, Gen Z, clergy, and lay leaders—and why curiosity about God, Scripture, and tradition remains strong, even in a fragmented religious landscape.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

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The episode explores holiness not as moralism or legalism, but as relational participation in the life of Christ. Drawing from Scripture, church history, and Alliance theology, Dr. Van De Walle explains how sanctification flows from union with Christ, how holiness has been misunderstood as mere ethics, and why Christian transformation must remain dependent, relational, and grace-filled.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

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In this fascinating episode, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone welcome Dr. Laurynas Jacevičius, Asbury Seminary Visiting Scholar from Lithuania, for a rich and wide-ranging conversation about apologetics, belief formation, and the unique challenges of sharing the gospel in a secular culture. Dr. Jacevičius shares how missionaries, Scripture, and persistent discipleship led him to faith at age 26 and into full-time ministry and academic work in apologetics.

Drawing from his research and experience in the Baltic region, he describes apologetics as “the art and science of Christian persuasion”—a blend of thoughtful reasoning, relational engagement, and Spirit-led attentiveness. Dr. Jacevičius also shares about his ministry, Apologetika.lt, his work producing Lithuanian-language apologetics content, and how listeners can pray for and support gospel work across the Baltic region.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

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In this episode, Dr. Tesia Mallory, Dean of Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary, shares how her call to ministry dates back to her baptism. She and Dr. Watson explore how worship forms Christian identity, why Word and Table belong at the center of congregational life, and how Wesleyans understand the Eucharist as a holy mystery that resists both memorialism and overly mechanical explanations.

Dr. Mallory also discusses preparing global worship for the Global Methodist Church 2026 General Conference in Johannesburg, emphasizing the importance of honoring diverse cultural expressions and seeking a Spirit-filled unity. She reflects on her Substack, her work on the GMC Book of Worship, and her vision for worship that begins with God and leads the Church outward in mission.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

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