Knowing Faith

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Gavin Ortlund to have a conversation about why Christians have disagreements and how we can engage in disagreements biblically.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• If all Christians believe the bible, why do they disagree so often?
• What’s the distinction between significant disagreement that separates and real disagreement that doesn’t require separation?
• How would we disagree well about using justification by faith as an identifying mark as a fundamental part of someone claiming to be a Christian?
• What are the main contributing factors to disagreements among Christians currently?
• How do you respond to people telling others with doctrinal disagreements in Protestantism to come back to the one true church?
• What is the priesthood of all believers?
• How do you coach leaders to handle disagreement in a group setting?
• What are your top three rules of engagement for disgareemnet?

Guest Bio:

Dr. Gavin Ortlund is a pastor, author, speaker, and apologist for the Christian faith. He is a husband to Esther, and a father to Isaiah, Naomi, Elijah, Miriam, and Abigail. He serves as President of Truth Unites, Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville, and Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary.

Gavin has a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in historical theology, and an M.Div from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is the author of a number of books including: Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn’t, What it Means to be Protestant, and the Art of Disagreeing. Gavin is a fellow of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, a fellow of The Center for Baptist Renewal, a fellow of Credo, a member of St. Basil Fellowship of The Center for Pastor Theologians, and a Visiting Scholar at Reasons to Believe. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• James 2:24, Ephesians 2:10
• “The Art of Disagreeing” by Gavin Ortlund
• “Finding the Right Hills to Die On” by Gavin Ortlund
• “The Reformed Pastor” by Richard Baxter
• “Biblical Authority after Babel” by Kevin J Vanhoozer
• “Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind” by Tom Holland
• Truth Unites

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation around the question, “Why doesn’t God always heal the sick?”

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why do people get sick? Where does sickness come from?
• What's the difference between personal sin and the presence of sin?
• Throughout the Bible, we see God perform miraculous healings. What are some examples that come to mind?
• Does my faith play a role in someone's healing?
• Is “not my will but yours” a prayer of faith?
• What is God’s best for us?
• What is the purpose of Jesus’s miracles?
• Why doesn’t God always heal the sick?

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Genesis 50:20, Luke 13, John 9, Mark 5:21-43, John 11:38-44, Mark 2:1-12, John 5:1-18, James 5:13-16, Daniel 3, Matthew 26:39, Revelation 21-22, 2 Timothy 4:20, John 16:33, Genesis 3

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation around giving and generosity in the life of a believer.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What does the word “tithe” mean?
• Where do we get the principle of the “tithe?”
• What's the difference between tithes and offerings?
• How is Israel functioning in the Old Testament?
• Is tithing biblical? Must Christians tithe?
• Should they give 10% of their earnings/income?
• How do you pastor people regarding giving and generosity?
• What are some of the wrong messages that can be taught around giving?
• Should Christians do more than tithe?

Helpful Definitions:

• Tithe: Maintaining the bottom line of Israel's religious life, supporting the ongoing ministry functions. 
• Offering: Responsive gifts given out of thanksgiving or celebration.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21
• Deep Discipleship Program

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Ian Harber to have a conversation about deconstruction in the Christian faith. 

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Is deconstruction good?
• What is deconstruction?
• What are some common examples?
• What is your personal story of deconstruction?
• How is your faith different from what it was before your deconstruction journey?
• Is there such a thing as healthy and unhealthy doubt?
• How can we be a good companion to those going through a season of deconstruction?
• It seems like many instances of deconstruction are tied in some way to the desire to dismiss or circumvent the clear biblical teaching on sexuality and/or gender - am I off on this? If not, how does that shape our engagement with those deconstructing?
• What would you want to tell someone who is going through a deconstruction journey?

Helpful Definitions:

• Deconstruction: Is a crisis of faith that leads to the questioning of core doctrines and the untangling of cultural ideologies that settles in a faith different from before.

Guest Bio:

Ian Harber is the Director for Communications and Marketing at Mere Orthodoxy, author of Walking Through Deconstruction, and a graduate of the Deep Discipleship Program. With a B.A. in Communication Theory from Dallas Baptist University, he has done marketing for nonprofits, churches, and small businesses for 10 years. Ian lives in Denton, TX with his wife Katie, and two sons, Ezra and Alastair. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
• “Walking Through Deconstruction” with Ian Harber
• Deep Discipleship Program

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Ronni Kurtz to discuss the impassability of God.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why this is problematic to say (if it is): God has an emotional life.
• Does God feel?
• Is impassability part of historic Christian doctrine?
• What is true and beautiful about this?
• Are passions and emotions the same thing?
• When we say God is simple, what are we saying?
• What if you don’t feel God’s love?
• What do we lose if we lose impassability?
• As an image bearer, am I supposed to try to be impassable?
• Why is the doctrine of accommodation important to this conversation?

Helpful Definitions:

• Impassable: God is not subject to emotions.
• Passion: Undergoing something.
• Diviven Simplicity: God is not composed of parts.
• Anthropomorphism: God describing himself in creaturely-like parts.
• Anthropopathism: God reveals himself in human emotive language.
• Anthropocronism: God describes himself in human-like time.

Guest Bio:

Ronni Kurtz serves as Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Kurtz holds a PhD in Systematic Theology, a ThM in Pedagogy, and an MDiv from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also has a BA in Biblical Studies from Southwest Baptist University. Dr. Kurtz is the author of numerous books and academic articles, including but not limited to Fruitful Theology, Proclaiming the Triune God, and Light Unapproachable. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• 1 Peter 2, Romans 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 John 4:7, Acts 14, Hebrews 4-5, Philippians 2, Exodus 33, 1 Samuel 15, Exodus 20, Job 4, 1 Samuel 15, Deuteronomy 32, Genesis 6
• Deep Discipleship Program

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.

Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss what preaching is and its purpose in the church.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Does preaching still matter?
• What is preaching?
• How is preaching different from other forms of teaching in the church?
• Should preaching be a part of corporate worship? What are the core concerns/questions/considerations around this?
• Why is preaching not more formative in the lives of church people?
• Does the Spirit have an ordained means by which God is going to normatively move through his church, or are any means the same?
• What is the purpose of liturgy? 
• What's the difference between a regulative and a normative principle of worship?
• How does the regulative principle affect the content of preaching?
• Is the sermon the “high point” of a service?
• What is the proper length of a sermon?
• How much of a service should be devoted to singing?
• What would you characterize as bad or ineffective preaching?
• Is preaching a spiritual gift?
• Is it possible to overemphasize the role of preaching?
• What is the role of teaching?

Helpful Definitions: 

• Preaching: Declaring the mighty acts of God, who He is, and what we are to do in response to those things from God's word in the gathering of God's people in corporate worship.
• Regulative: The Bible regulates all that one can do in the corporate worship of a body. If it's not clearly seen in scripture or prohibited, then it can or can’t be done.
• The Bible presents a clear pattern of worship, including preaching, baptism, the Lord's supper, and singing, which should be the normative practices of the body of Christ.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Deep Discipleship Program

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss the role of an apostle and the importance of understanding its meaning when using the term.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Are there modern-day apostles?
• Why are we asking this question right now?
• Are bishop and apostle the same thing?
• What is an apostle?
• What about Ephesians 4? Is that indicating that “apostle” is an office?
• Do the apostles ever provide instructions or character qualifications for what an officer who is an apostle would need to be?
• What's the risk of calling someone an apostle?
• What motivates someone who aspires to the title of apostle? What motivates people who gravitate toward having leaders with the title of apostle?
• How does this affect the church?
• Why is this language so common in church planter circles? What is an “apostolic gift”?
• Where does authority lie?

Helpful Definitions: 

• Apostle: One who is sent by Christ to testify about the resurrection in the first century.
• Essential Authority: Belongs to the testimony of God in his Word, in Christ, and in the created order by the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Entrusted Authority: Is derivative, ordained, or granted. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Ephesians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 9:1-2, Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 14:37-38, Acts 19, Ephesians 6
• Deep Discipleship Program

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.

Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss what makes someone a real Christian.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What makes a real Christian?
• Is everyone who claims to be a Christian a Christian?
• How does anyone get to define what Christianity is or is not?
• Why would we say a Jehovah's Witness or a Mormon is not a Christian?
• If Jesus is not God, does it change the nature of the atonement?
• How do you determine which denominations are within the family and which are not?

Helpful Definitions: 

• Arianism: Believes that Jesus was the first and greatest creature created by God, but not God.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• John 3, 1 Corinthians 5, 1-3 John, John 1
• The Apostles Creed
• Nicene Creed
• The Chalcedonian Creed

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.

Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation about how therapeutic language has invaded the church.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Has therapeutic language invaded the church?
• What are the root theological issues at play in therapeutic language and the church?
• What do we mean by therapy language?
• What is the history that got us here?
• How should the Christian enter into therapeutic practices?
• How does this show up in lament?
• How does this affect Bible reading?
• Where else has therapeutic language invaded the church?
• What is underemphasized in the church?
• Why does this need to be addressed?
• What is one step for someone who wants to engage faithfully with therapeutic language?

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Matthew 22:37, Philippians 4:4-9
• “The Triumph of the Therapeutic” by Philip Rieff 
• “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self” By Carl Trueman 
• “Daring Greatly’ by Brené Brown
• Confronting Christianity
• “Bad Therapy” by Abigail Shrier
• “Formed for Fellowship” by Kyle Worley
• Deep Discipleship Program

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.

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Season 15 of the Knowing Faith podcast begins on August 21st! In this episode, Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley give you a preview of what is to come in Season 15.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What are some of our main disagreements?
• What is our goal?
• What are we talking about this season?

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Romans 9-11

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Support Training the Church and Become a Patron:

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.

Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.