King & Culture

Luke and Seth talk about Heaven, Hell, death, and judgment. They answer questions about what happens when we die, pets in heaven, God's justice, whether those in heaven are paying attention to us, what hell is like, and more.

• Heaven and Earth (Bible Project Video)
• Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church (NT Wright)
• Heaven: A Comprehensive Guide to Everything the Bible Says About Our Eternal Home (Randy Alcorn)
• In Light of Eternity: Perspectives on Heaven (Randy Alcorn)

Luke, Seth, and Matthew Braselton take on even more questions that were submitted on Ask Anything Sunday, including:

• What is the purpose of the smoke/fog/haze used during services?
• Why do we sometimes change song lyrics from their original writing?
• What’s the best way to deal with a spouse that is taking so much time away from his family due to being distracted by his phone?
• As a parent, how do you handle when your kids grow up and move away to college and stray away from spending time with God. How can you avoid feeling like a failure as a parent?
• What do you say to someone who has experienced much loss throughout their life, and as a result, seriously doubts that God is good (in general, and especially to them)?
• Follow up to civil disobedience question- following God not man - why did Churches close (when God says do not forsake the gathering)-instead following mandates from man. What was learned and what will be done differently if faced with it again?
• Your emphasis on attending Sunday services at church rather than choosing to watch Sunday services online in the safety of their home is clear and easily understood. You emphasize fellowship. What are your feelings about people who prefer to fellowship in smaller settings such their RC’s and other ministries?
• As Redemption Gateway grows, are there future plans to expand the facilities to accommodate the growth or instead plant another church?
• What do you do to protect your faith and keep your heart soft to keep serving as pastors?
• I listened to “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” podcast from Christianity Today. Knowing spiritual abuse by leadership is not relegated only to one church, what guidelines do Gateway and Redemption AZ have in place to guard against such abuse?

Check out Follow-Up #1 and Ask Anything 2022

Luke, Seth, and Matthew Braselton take on additional questions that were submitted on Ask Anything Sunday, including:

• If someone was isolated their entire life and never heard about a God at all in their life span would God have mercy on them? How can those who are illiterate, mentally challenged or even in a 3rd world country that are good people be saved by Jesus? Or those who don't know or find Jesus during their life, what happens to them?
• What do you when you don't feel like you have a purpose?
• If Jesus were here now, do you think he’d wear a mask or get vaccinated?
• What was your most challenging "no" to give in 2021?
• What are our mission emphases, local, nationality, and internationally?
• Why is the Bible formatted/arranged the way it is? It’s not always clear when it goes from poetic to literal.  (See Song of Songs Woman)
• How do we have a healthy relationship with money and have a nice lifestyle? Sometimes I feel guilty with wanting nice things, but I still want to maintain my relationship with God and not be distracted by what's important.
• I've been around a long time and I'm fairly familiar with our beliefs about women in ministry. I agree with these beliefs but as a young woman I have a hard time wrestling with the limited opportunities available to me. Do you have any encouragement for someone in my position?
• Would any of you guys consider being a youth pastor?

Luke and Seth discuss different aspects of God's law and how it's different than the laws of humankind.

Seth and Luke discuss the emotional complexity of Christmas and how Jesus being a Man of Sorrows affects our Holly Jolly Christmas celebrations.

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Luke and Seth discuss healthy and unhealthy ways to talk about “deconstruction” and various reasons people engage in the process.

Josh Butler: 4 Causes of Deconstruction
Apple Podcasts: Decolonizing Deconstruction
Spotify: Decolonizing Deconstruction
UK Deconstruction Facade Photo

Seth and Luke discuss how God is not a polygamist — he only has one bride — but because of consumerism and insecurity, Christians are tempted not to functionally believe that.

The Third Commandment means more than not using God's name to swear. Seth and Luke explore how common and easy it is to take the Lord's name in vain. They talk about acting like God can be magically controlled, the "flags" we fly to show the world our identity, our tendency to use God to excuse what we just want to do, and more. 

"Salvation" is a word that seems like just a churchy, religious word — but we see the concept of salvation at work all around us. Luke and Seth explore this countercultural conviction around salvation, noting that the broader culture struggles with God's wrath while Christians often struggle with God's sovereignty. They talk about why God's sovereignty matters and get to the core thing we have to understand to embrace it.

Watch or listen to Josh Watt's sermon, "Salvation."
Get more resources on salvation, reformed theology, and the doctrines of grace.
See the "Turtle on a Fence Post."

Luke and guest Matthew Braselton sit down to discuss the Countercultural Convictions series message on "Generosity." They talk about the tension between generosity and wise stewardship, how suffering provides opportunities for generosity, how to discern what to invest in, and the importance of being able to receive generosity.

Watch or listen to the related sermon.
Explore additional resources on generosity.