Knowing God

The guys consider some of the essential components of Anabaptism, based on an almost 80 year old essay. No, some of the essential components are not wearing bonnets and growing lengthy beards. 

Our recommendation: The Anabaptist Vision by Harold Bender, https://www.goshen.edu/mhl/Refocusing/d-av.htm

This week, the guys consider the issue of divine impassibility, thanks to a deep, theological question from Tony's three-year-old daughter. 

Our recommendations:

Songs for Saplings, https://songsforsaplings.com/spotify-english/

None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God by Matthew Barrett, https://www.amazon.com/None-Greater-Undomesticated-Attributes-God/dp/0801098742/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=none+greater&qid=1606343455&sr=8-1

Listen to these NERDS talk about reading books!

Some of the best books we've read this year:

Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David Blight, https://www.amazon.com/Frederick-Douglass-David-W-Blight/dp/1416590323/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3IB5CKVQUD35R&dchild=1&keywords=frederick+douglass+prophet+of+freedom+by+david+blight&qid=1606327902&sprefix=Frederick+Douglas%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-3

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-50th-Anniversary-Vol/dp/0618640150/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=lord+of+the+rings&qid=1606327938&sr=8-11

"He Descended to the Dead": An Evangelical Theology of Holy Saturday by Matthew Y. Emerson https://www.amazon.com/He-Descended-Dead-Evangelical-Theology/dp/0830852581/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27QREMLGI2GAP&dchild=1&keywords=he+descended+to+the+dead&qid=1606327987&sprefix=he+descended+%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-1

Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals: Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future by Gavin Ortlund, https://www.amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2EHR1I9VYWZRX&dchild=1&keywords=theological+retrieval+for+evangelicals&qid=1606328028&sprefix=theological+retriever%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-3

The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success by Ross Douthat, https://www.amazon.com/Decadent-Society-Became-Victims-Success/dp/1476785244/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+decadent+society&qid=1606328069&sr=8-1

Breaking Bread with the Dead: A Reader's Guide to a More Tranquil Mind by Alan Jacobs, https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Bread-Dead-Readers-Tranquil/dp/1984878409/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QR26PPV86D3S&dchild=1&keywords=breaking+bread+with+the+dead&qid=1606328101&sprefix=breaking+bread+wi%2Caps%2C240&sr=8-1

Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality by Nancy R. Pearcey, https://www.amazon.com/Love-Thy-Body-Answering-Questions/dp/0801075726/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=love+thy+body&qid=1606328132&sr=8-1

This week is Thanksgiving, which will give us many opportunities to eat great food, reflect on all we are thankful for, and have difficult discussions with family members. How do we handle those? This week, the guys share what they have learned in years of having difficult conversations themselves.

Thank YOU for listening!

We can all think of instances where we have found out that our heroes in the faith have fallen, either into gross error or sin. This week, the guys consider how we should think, and what we should do, when something like this happens.

Aaron's recommendation: James Leo Garrett, Systematic Theology

Vol. 1, https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Fourth-James-Garrett/dp/149820659X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2VRJYQ4YY4O7F&dchild=1&keywords=james+leo+garrett+systematic+theology&qid=1605220590&sprefix=James+Leo+garret%2Caps%2C230&sr=8-2

Vol. 2, https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Second-James-Garrett/dp/1498206603/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/140-1896978-8791237?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1498206603&pd_rd_r=30610b5d-35df-4132-958b-da5c4ad177d0&pd_rd_w=rQNLy&pd_rd_wg=EuVw8&pf_rd_p=52ff3488-8ecd-4341-9663-52e4fb00f500&pf_rd_r=HH44S2ZD0M6YBAP9Y947&psc=1&refRID=HH44S2ZD0M6YBAP9Y947

In this episode, the guys conclude their study through Rebecca McLaughlin's book, Confronting Christianity, in which they explore the nature of heaven and hell in the afterlife and how God is just throughout the process.

Tony's Recommendation: "The Tree of Life" from Terrance Malick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrAz1YLh8nY

The guys continue reading through Rebecca McLaughlin's Confronting Christianity by considering the age-old problem of suffering. They have no pat answers, but find great comfort in Jesus Christ's suffering for us.

Aaron's recommendation: Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller, https://www.amazon.com/Walking-God-through-Pain-Suffering/dp/1594634408/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3LUJC3VDSUD45&dchild=1&keywords=walking+with+god+through+pain+and+suffering&qid=1603923670&s=books&sprefix=walking+with+god+%2Cstripbooks%2C244&sr=1-2

This week, the guys celebrate Reformation Day (Halloween, for some of you) by considering the great Protestant debate over the Lord's Supper. Our apologies for the length, but let's be honest: you knew what you were getting into. 

Our recommendations: Three Treatises by Martin Luther, https://www.amazon.com/Three-Treatises-Martin-Luther/dp/0800616391/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Luther+three+treatises&qid=1603387536&sr=8-1

Theology of the Reformers by Timothy George, https://www.amazon.com/Theology-Reformers-Timothy-George-dp-0805401954/dp/0805401954/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1603387573

Is Jesus a card-carrying member of the MAGA Express? Or is he Ridin' with Biden? How ought Christians view politics? This week, the guys take on the issue of faith and politics, offering an approach to the issue.

Their recommendation: Read across the political spectrum!

The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com

The Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com

National Review, https://www.nationalreview.com

The New Republic, https://newrepublic.com

Nightly News with Lester Holt, https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news

This week, the guys take up the issue of slavery in the Bible. We believe that slavery is immoral, inhumane, and evil. How do we reconcile that view with what the Bible has to say about slavery? What do the Scriptures say?

Tony's recommendation: America's God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln, by Mark Noll, https://www.amazon.com/Americas-God-Jonathan-Edwards-Abraham/dp/0195182995/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=america%27s+god&qid=1602096058&sr=8-1