Dr. Jim Denison sits down with Dr. Mark Turman to discuss the brevity of life, sudden deaths of loved ones, human suffering and God’s sovereignty, and to pastorally unpack Psalm 23.  

Show notes: 

Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison begin by discussing why the brevity of life is on their minds, both with personal stories of sudden deaths (1:29). They consider the tension between being frightened of the unexpected and trusting the purpose of God; we’re “vapor” and yet have eternal value to God (6:33). Dr. Turman asks whether it was God’s plan for his church member’s six-year son to die and the theology of death and God’s foreknowledge (14:31). They move thinking about practical advice for if you or someone you know loses a loved one (25:47). They discuss how Psalm 23 can speak into the darkest times of our lives and how we can intimately know the good shepherd (31:28). 

Resources and further reading:

• “If God is sovereign, why does evil exist?” The Denison Forum Podcast

• “What does the Bible say about suffering?” Dr. Jim Denison 

About the host 

Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. 

About the guest 

Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.