Knowing God

This week, the guys talk to Mark Fowler, the COO at Mountain View Church, about his transition from working in education to working in the church, and what it means to be called by God.

Mark's recommendations: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell, https://smile.amazon.com/Blink-Power-Thinking-Without/dp/0316010669/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=blink+malcolm+gladwell&qid=1626302136&sr=8-1

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, https://smile.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3FQ8CWPFV4L3F&dchild=1&keywords=lencioni+the+five+dysfunctions+of+a+team&qid=1626302175&sprefix=lencioni+%2Caps%2C317&sr=8-3

The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything in Business by Patrick Lencioni, https://smile.amazon.com/Advantage-Organizational-Health-Everything-Business/dp/0470941529/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3NHEP0WK0RNH3&dchild=1&keywords=lencioni+the+advantage&qid=1626302204&sprefix=lencioni+%2Caps%2C259&sr=8-3

Jesus tells us, "judge not lest ye be judged." What does that mean? Whom are we supposed to not judge? How does this fit in with the rest of the Bible? This week, the guys ponder this passage, and try to put it not only in its immediate context, but also in the context of the whole Bible.

Tony's recommendation: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, a Christianity Today podcast, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/

The guys are back, taking a small break from putting verses back into their context (they'll return to those soon) in order to talk about current events—specifically, the more interesting than usual happenings in the Southern Baptist Convention. 

Aaron's recommendation: Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer and Daniel Im, https://smile.amazon.com/Planting-Missional-Churches-Starting-Multiply/dp/1433692163/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26VY1KKCQ6LGJ&dchild=1&keywords=planting+missional+churches&qid=1625176367&sprefix=planting+mission%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-1

The guys consider whether to make this a Romans 8 podcast, as they discuss what it means that God is for us. If nothing else can come against us, does that mean we will only win Super Bowls? Or might it mean something a good deal greater?

Tony's recommendation: The Argument, hosted by Jane Coaston, "Does Teaching America It's Racist Make It Less Racist?" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/19/opinion/race-theory-us-racism.html

God makes all things work together for our good. The Bible tells us that. But what does that mean? This week, the guys go in-depth on Romans 8, and discover that God's goodness is something deeper than we tend to realize. 

Aaron's recommendation: Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense by Paul David Tripp, https://smile.amazon.com/Suffering-Gospel-Hope-Doesnt-Sense/dp/1433556774/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=paul+david+tripp+suffering&qid=1623108628&sr=8-3

This week, the guys talk about love... and how the famous chapter of love may not be fully about what we think it is. 

Tony's recommendation: "2001: A Space Odyssey," directed by Stanley Kubrick, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR_e9y-bka0

Also, listen to "God is Love" by Marvin Gaye, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui9S040GwPA

This week, the guys dig in to one of the most famous verses in all of the Bible: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." So, what is this passage saying? Does God NOT have good plans for us? Listen and find out! (Spoiler: Yes, but not perhaps in the ways we think.)

Aaron's recommendation: A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture that Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Scot McKnight, https://smile.amazon.com/Church-Called-Tov-Goodness-Promotes/dp/1496446003/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+church+called+tov&qid=1621899386&sr=8-1

This week, the guys tackle Psalm 46:10, in which we encounter God in our stillness... or something like that. Join us as we continue to find meaning in these passages of Scripture while keeping them in the right context.

Aaron's recommendation: How to Read the Psalms by Tremper Longman III, https://www.christianbook.com/how-to-read-the-psalms/tremper-longman/9780877849414/pd/49412?product_redirect=1&search_term=tremper%20longman%20how%20to%20read%20the%20psalms&Ntt=49412&item_code=&ps_exit=PRODUCT%7Cnew&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Continuing our series on verses which tend to be taken out of context, we look at Revelation 3, in which Jesus tells us it is better to love him or hate him than to be lukewarm, and that he stands at the door knocking, asking, pleading with us to let him into our hearts and receive salvation. Right? The guys get into this and more as we seek to put the right context around these familiar passages.

Tony's recommendation: Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulley, https://smile.amazon.com/Reading-While-Black-American-Interpretation/dp/083085486X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=reading+while+black&qid=1620751439&sr=8-1

We just celebrated the National Day of Prayer, and usually one of the more prominent verses at events like this is 2 Chronicles 7:14. But is it actually used correctly? We look at what it means within the context of the broader passage, and how we can still apply it to our lives (and our country) today.

Our recommendations: "2 Chronicles 7:14 Isn't About American Politics" by Russell Moore, https://www.russellmoore.com/2016/01/14/2-chronicles-714-isnt-about-american-politics/

Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel by Russell Moore, https://smile.amazon.com/Onward-Engaging-Culture-without-Losing/dp/1433686171/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=onward+russell+moore&qid=1619742656&sr=8-2